A modern style statement visible from afar, the contemporary Openhouse by XTEN Architecture is nestled on a steep slope in the Hollywood Hills with the iconic Sunset Boulevard at its feet. The bold residential design features retaining walls that are built into the hillside, placing the main living area within the landscape and allowing for two levels of garden terraces. Glass is a major player in this unique home design. A total of 44 sliding glass panels, each measuring seven by 10 ft., allow the front and rear facades of the house to slide open, blurring the boundaries between indoors and out. Additional fixed panels of glass and mirror reflect the cool, contemporary ambiance of this trendy spot where nature meets contemporary urban living. “Openhouse appears as a simple folded line with recessed glass planes, a strong sculptural form at the scale of the site. The minimalist logic of the architecture is transformed by direct and indirect connections to nature,” explain the architects. Supporting the expanses of glass are solid elements of stone, concrete, dark-stained oak and plaster, which really ground the house and lend it an all-enduring quality. XTEN Architecture
via DigsDigs
