Rustic Canyon Residence
Located in Rustic Canyon, a unique and historic area bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains, this house is a series of individual buildings that continue our exploration of residential environments by the examination and articulation of the various rooms and spaces that form the backdrop for our lives.
There are four primary elements which are perceived from both the exterior and interior. These pieces are held together by a secondary system of connective tissue which provides circulation and incidental enclosure. The separation of the parts allows for a rich interior/exterior experience and an awareness of the parts as you move through the overall composition.
Status: Completed in 1995
Project Size: 6,900 s.f.
Architectural Team: Rocky Rockefeller, AIA, Michael Hricak, FAIA
This simple builder’s house was built in the 1940s and a poorly conceived addition in the 1960s drastically altered its appearance. The firm's assignment was to keep the existing foundation and structure but change its aesthetic and spatial configuration. The owners had lived in this beach-side community most of their lives and were hoping to achieve something that felt less like a house by the beach, and more like a beach house. With this in mind, the architects created a home with a stronger connection to the outdoors, bathed in natural light, informal, and very comfortable.
Status: Completed in 2000
Project Size: 3,500 s.f.
Architectural Team: Rocky Rockefeller, AIA, Brian Pera, Christopher Kempel, AIA, Peter Rittner, Anna Gay Del Vescova
Inheriting the project from a client frustrated with their former architect, rPA was called upon to salvage a design that wasn’t theirs. Using the formerly established programmatic arrangement, rPA adjusted and improved a design that initially lacked order and balance. The project was carried through construction documents in record time. The result was a pragmatic and attractive arrangement that skillfully maneuvered a compact and steep site.
Status: Under Construction
Project Size: 3,953 s.f.
Architectural Team: Christopher Kempel, AIA, Rocky Rockefeller, AIA,
Keith Ireland, AIA, Anthony Laney