Let’s be honest; at one point or another, we’ve all wanted to live like a movie star in Los Angeles. With the dusky views of the city’s skyline, ocean to the south and mountains to the east — it’s a city full of extraordinary views and people alike.
And this house, in beautiful Bel Air, is no different. In fact, Stradella, a remodel of an existing 1970s house, is the most Oscar-worthy of all. With spectacular views over the LA basin, capturing the full panorama from Downtown to Century City, the house was redesigned to let more of the West Coast Light in, and more of the rolling vistas and verdant setting.
As you roll up to Stradella, through a deeply wooded hillside, the arrival facade has been reimagined as a sculpture — a huge buttress tying the house into the hillside. Inside, the architecture — created by SAOTA — is just as striking, with asymmetrical hallways, sliding windows and bedrooms that spill out onto external terraces.
The front terrace, reconfigured to blend seamlessly with the lush wooded setting, has a new pool and linear planters, to ease the transition from angular house to fluid nature. And the iconic 40 metre long canopy, floating effortlessly over the east terrace around the blue sky and palm trees, is just one of many comfortable spaces provided for outdoor dining and lounging.
The consideration for nature is a theme that continues into the palette of the property. Balancing warm and natural tones, you’ll find an elegant canvas of French limestone and white plaster brought to life by bronze and anodised aluminium. Inside, grey-washed ash millwork sets the standard: Sophisticated, refined, but striking nonetheless.
It’s a dream house, simply put. Hidden from the bustling day-to-day of LA, but with a position that sits prominent over the whole city, this is the best of both worlds — and with plenty of palm trees, too…
Want more American inspiration? This modern home is carved into the Washington wilderness…
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