Modern multi-story house built into a hillside, illuminated at dusk with large glass windows and wooden accents.

Lyric Residence

Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA
Residential / Single Family Home
1,900 SF
Raimondo Family
Completed

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Los Angeles is often thought of as a flat city, but ironically much of the architecture that it’s known for are modern hillside homes.

Throughout Los Angeles’ modern history, the availability of relatively inexpensive hillside property has appealed to adventurous clients and architects who saw its potential, and developed the expertise to meet the site’s challenges. The complexities of these lots require structural and siting ingenuity that characterizes these modern homes, and in turn has come to define Los Angeles architecture.

The building steps 15-feet back on the thrid floor to create an outdoor room that seamlessly connects to the living areas with full-height stacking doors.

After the birth of their second child, Luke and Astrid Raimondo quickly realized that they had outgrown their previous home, also designed by Casey Hughes Architects (CHA). Luke, a commercial real estate broker, found a vacant lot on a quiet residential street in the architecturally significant neighborhood of Silver Lake. Although the area is highly sought after, previous architects and builders had deemed the site “unbuildable,” so it languished on the market for decades.

Luke, who has a keen eye for opportunity, asked CHA to reevaluate that conclusion. After some research, CHA determined that the site was indeed buildable, and Luke crunched the numbers and found that they could build their dream home for well below market value. They decided to move forward with the purchase and commissioned CHA to design their home. 

Modern living room with large windows, a round white dining table with four white chairs, a sofa with cream-colored cushions, and various plants, overlooking a balcony with trees.

The home feels enveloped by the earth, while looking out to expansive views.

CHA began the design by researching the zoning regulations to determining the 3-D “envelope” (maximum building height, minimum building setback distance, maximum build area, etc) that the building must fit within. Unlike flat lots that are a relativity open canvas, the Lyric residence’s zoning envelope was so constrained that it dictated much of the home’s exterior form.

With the maximum building envelope in mind, CHA determined the optional room layout for the three-bedroom, three-bathroom house. The home was divided into 4 levels which were stacked to follow the site's topography and to decrease the required site excavation, while optimizing the building’s foundation. The resulting home minimized construction costs and disturbance to the site while, allowing the home to capture the spectacular views towards Silver Lake.

The sides of the home are clad in matte cement board, which provides a gravity that counterbalances the weight of the hill. By contrast, the front façade is almost entirely comprised of large windows and sliding doors that open to balconies and the view. The front façade follows the angle of the street, creating a trapezoidal plan and giving the building the appearance of being smaller than it actually is.

Modern living room with white sofa, wooden coffee table, wall-mounted TV, sliding glass door leading to balcony with trees outside, and minimal decor.

12-foot high ceilings and full-height doors gives the house a lofty feel.

Horizontal wood slated balconies protrude from the façade, extending the interior spaces outdoors. These slats allow an unobstructed view from inside the home, but provide privacy when viewed from the street. A vertical band of statuary marble runs on the interior and exterior from the second level to the roof, unifying the front façade and giving a subtle nod to the home’s modern lineage.

The garage and double-height foyer occupy the ground level connecting the entry to the living spaces above. The entry stair rises above a shallow pool that reflects the light streaming in from the skylights. This stair winds five stories up to the roof deck, creating a dramatic atrium that ties the levels of the house together. Skylights at the top of each run of the stair bring light through the atrium deep into the house.

Modern kitchen with light wood flooring, a white kitchen island with two wooden chairs, built-in oven, open shelving, and a dining table with four white chairs and a vase with yellow flowers.

The open kitchen has gray lacquer and maple cabinetry that form interlocking “L” shaped volumes. Integrated pulls run the length of the cabinetry, giving a streamlined feel.

The second floor is comprised of an open office and guest suite that is located close to the entrance so the guests can come and go as they please. The third floor is an open plan kitchen, living room and dining room with the 12-foot high ceilings and full-height windows, which gives the house a lofty feel and unhampered views. The building steps 15-feet back on this floor to create an outdoor room that seamlessly connects to the living areas with full-height stacking doors.

Modern kitchen with a floating staircase with glass railing and black metal frame, a man in white shirt walking upstairs, a plant on the floor, a marble dining table with white chairs, a bowl of lemons, and a counter with glasses and orange juice.

An open tread stair winds through a dramatic five story atrium that ties the levels of the house together.

Wooden staircase with glass railings and concrete wall in a modern building interior.

Skylights at the top of each run of the stair bring light into the house.

Modern staircase with wooden steps, glass railings, and a small window letting in natural light, viewed from the top looking down.

The stair winds up five stories culminating in a light filled stair tower that connects the home to the roof deck.

Modern bedroom with a bed, yellow lounge chair and ottoman, artwork on the wall, large window with a view of trees and houses, and a potted cactus near the window.

Full height doors allow the primary bedroom to open to a balcony and the view. A maple clad closet extends the entire length and height of the bedroom bringing warmth to the room. Horizontal wood slated balconies protrude from the façade, extending the interior spaces outdoors.

The primary suite and bedrooms occupy the upper floor. This level also has full-height doors that allow the bedrooms to be fully opened to balconies and the view. An oak clad closet extends the entire length and height of the bedroom bringing warmth to the space.

Modern bathroom with white marble walls, a bathtub, and a walk-in shower with a rain showerhead. There is a white toilet and a white vanity with a plant in a glass vase.

Statuary marble extends into a light well that bathes the master bath in natural light.

Rooftop patio with wooden deck, outdoor furniture including a bench, chairs, and a table with candles, potted cacti, and a scenic view of a suburban neighborhood with trees and houses in the background during dusk.

The roof deck is designed for entertaining and spending time with family outdoors.

The top of the house meets the grade at the rear, allowing the roof deck to extend into the rear yard.  A huge dining table, BBQ, and other amenities bring interior comforts to this roof area connecting the house to the beautiful site.

The pleasure of being in the house is at once the feeling of steadiness and buoyancy. The home feels enveloped by the earth, while looking out to expansive views. The perceived weight of the walls provides a satisfying contrast to the view and lightness of the atrium and stair that playfully winds through the home.

Architectural model of a modern, white multi-story house on a sloped terrain with layered cardboard surrounding it.

A model of the house with the street in the foreground.

Architectural rendering of a modern multi-story house on a sloped lot with large windows, balconies, a rooftop deck, and landscaped garden areas.

Isometric view of the front facade showing the cement board rain screen, marble band, and wood accents.

Cross-sectional architectural drawing of a multi-story building with stairs, balconies, and windows, with silhouettes of people inside for scale.

Isometric section showing how the house steps to follow the site’s steep slope. A double-height foyer occupies the ground level connecting the entry to the living spaces above. The entry stair rises above a shallow pool that reflects the light streaming in from the skylights.

Diagrams of design process

Plans