CUT OUT HOUSE

The Cut Out House is a 2500 square foot, three bedroom complete remodel of a Victorian built over a century ago and previously untouched since the 1920s.

In order to create a modern home, the existing interior structure had to be completely reorganized. We reversed the original flow, turning the back of the site into the main living area.

Each floor is punctured by three slots so that the home connects vertically rather than horizontally. Traditional Victorian homes often are poorly lit and are disconnected from floor to floor but by suspending floors, there is brightness and fluidity throughout the Cut Out House.

In this exceptionally narrow and small lot (65 feet x 25 feet), solar orientation and natural light diffusion were paramount for making sure the home felt warm and open.

In order to maximize the small footprint of the house, the ground floor was excavated at the rear extension. The back façade, which is tilted at 9 degrees, is built of a custom field-glazed steel frame with insulated glass. The angle over two stories–a canted facade–maximizes space and square footage in the house.

Color and material were used to enliven the interiors. All cabinetry within the slot is all painted various shades of blue from light to dark, emphasizing the progression from top to bottom.

By reconceptualizing the entire space itself and reversing the program orientation of the home, a traditional house is reinvented.

Publications

2021/04 G&G Magazine

2021/02 G&G Magazine

2020/06 Hauser

2020/04 Dezeen

2019/03, California Home and Design, Cover feature

2018/05 Design on Web

2018/05 Abitare, Cover feature

2018/03 METROPOLIS

2018/02 Dwell Magazine, Cover feature

Awards

2017 AIA California Council Residential Design Award