Crestridge Residence: A Modern Marvel by Colega Architects

Revamping a Dated Tract Home into a Modern Family Oasis

The inspiration for the Crestridge Residence came from the clients' desire for a modern, warm, and uncluttered home that could fully embrace the California sunshine. The existing house, a nondescript tract home, was transformed into a custom modern home without adding a single square foot. The result is a home that stands out for its unique aesthetic and functional design.

This project was a full gut remodel. The owners had purchased a home with the desired square footage and lot size but were unsatisfied with its aesthetics, flow, and functions. Colega Architects designed a modern home within the footprint of the existing dated house. The remodel included accents such as a louver system for privacy along the front elevation, a vaulted great room with a view in the rear, minimal facade detailing, and a warm but clean interior palette.

The vertical louver system is detailed in clear grain natural iron wood with black oxide hardware, infilling a grey aluminum clad frame. The rear elevation is characterized by the confluence of the vaulted great room volume and the elongated frame, enveloped in warm wood siding on the walls, deck, and eave. Contrasting the frame is an inset background of whitewashed wood siding with expansive windows opening to a spectacular view of the L.A. basin.

The house, located on a 21,000 SF down-sloping lot, is a 2100 SF marvel of modern architecture. The design team, led by Bogdan Tomalevski, Tarek Abdel Ghaffar, and Richard Holt, worked diligently to create a home that not only met the clients' aesthetic desires but also their functional needs. The team designed two distinct private wings at opposite ends of the house, allowing for co-family living and guest quarters.

The Crestridge Residence project commenced in May 2017 and was completed in August 2019. The design process involved significant research into the existing structure, with a focus on efficiency and cost savings. The team challenged themselves to salvage as much as possible from the original structure, reallocating the savings to enrich the aesthetic portions of the project.

This project exemplifies the potential of a well-thought-out remodel. Natural light floods all interior spaces, and composed volumetric interiors have established hierarchy and order to the home. Large openings now face the dominant view and can open up to connect the exterior to the interior. The Crestridge Residence was awarded the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2020, a testament to the design's outstanding creativity and excellence.