Residential
Pasadena, California

In construction

an aerial view of a house surrounded by trees and bushes .

Our residential remodel in Pasadena is a house whose floors pushed through its walls.

a black and white drawing of a house with a garden .

The existing building was designed in such a way that it was closed off from its surroundings, which included mountain views and a garden on a hilly, tree-filled street in Pasadena. Additionally, it had maxed out its FAR (Floor Area Ratio), meaning we couldn’t add meaningful square footage to the house.

a black and white drawing of a house with a garden .

We opted to extend the house’s floors “through” its walls, utilizing Southern California’s temperate climate to increase room sizes by extending them outside.

Each extended floor engages a different view, expanding the size and transforming the experience of the previously insular house.

a living room with a couch , chairs , table and balcony .

The dry, warm climate of Southern California meant these extended floors could be used as extensions of the interior spaces, including the dining room, living rooms, and kitchen.

Reference—Roof House by Tezuka. Built in 2001.

a room with a sign that says robot park on it

Reference—Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow & Blue³, Robert Irwin. 2006-07.

a black and white floor plan of a house .

These shifted floors were then filed as balconies so as not to surpass the property’s plot ratio limitations, expanding the use of the house without expanding its maxed-out footprint.