Solar panels, water purification station,air recovery system, natural materials and million-dollar views. How to combine “green” technologies with a spectacular appearance and comfortable interior filling? How to create a minimalist and modern, but at the same time bright and cozy space for the whole family? We decided to study one of the most technologically advanced projects of a family residence on the West Coast of the USA in detail and show you the best finds of architects “House on the Hill” is so far the only building in Beverly Hills with a US “green certificate”, meaning the minimal impact of the structure on the environment. Last year, it was included in the top five best private residences in America - according to the National Guild of Architects. The house really stands high, in the center of the legendary Beverly Hills, the most fashionable area of Los Angeles, in the thick of multi-million dollar mansions. On one side is the estate of Priscilla Presley, the only official wife of Elvis, on the other - the villa, which until last year was owned by Sharon Stone. All around there are high fences with rotating cameras, signs saying “private property” and crossed-out images of cameras.
It is clear that going to your neighbor for salt is not an option here.accepted. That's why the owners of the house, Brenda and Steven, were quite surprised when they saw the Basic Instinct star on their doorstep with a "homemade pie" in her hands. Sharon Stone came to meet the people who built the most unusual villa in the area and asked for a tour. You can understand the actress: "House on the Hill" is impressive both from the outside and from the inside.
The owners of the house, the spouses Stephen Dubin (StephenDubin and Brenda Ellerin are the poster children for wealthy Americans. A successful marriage of the national elite and the American dream. Stephen is a major league sports manager specializing in American football and golf stars (the two main passions of a true New World gentleman), and inherited his passion for sports from his millionaire father. Brenda is an investment consultant for Hollywood stars who started out as an assistant in a backwater office. Stephen grew up in an ultra-modern Milwaukee home with high wooden ceilings and transparent glass walls. Brenda picked up his passion for modernism back in college, where they met and never parted. The marriage brought the couple two children and an extensive collection of modern art.
Stephen Dubin, home owner:— We hesitated for a long time to move to Beverly Hills. Precisely because most of the houses on the market were a vague mixture of Mediterranean style, inflated to the size of an average American ranch, and American classics. But this windswept lot, with its wonderful views and flocks of songbirds, completely captivated my wife and me. We decided to rebuild the old house that had stood here before, and turned to Marc Whipple to design us something modernist, with a simple but bright interior.
Mark Whipple, Principal, Whipple Russell ArchitectsThe son of an American diplomat, Mark Whipple grew up moving between Europe, Asia and Africa. The rich and diverse cultures of three continents determined his pronounced penchant for eclecticism. After graduating from Eton and the prestigious British Architectural Association School in London, he became an apprentice to the famous architect George Vernon Russell, creator of the Trocadero cafe on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, the Flamingo in Las Vegas, Samuel Goldwyn's house in Beverly Hills and other objects - landmarks of "glossy" America. Whipple managed to open his own firm only 26 years later, and in memory of his teacher, he included his surname in the name. Mark Whipple is called the best designer on the West Coast. His houses combine modern style, exceptional comfort and an innovative approach. The company uses "green" technologies and strives to work with clients who are interested in an ecological approach to both construction and interior filling. whipplerussell.com
Mark Whipple, principal of Whipple Russell architects:— They were the perfect clients because they thought very much like each other and like me personally. They wanted an open space that would fit into the landscape and be comfortable for a family with two teenage children. They wanted to open the house up to light and air as much as possible, but still leave enough space for art. Finally, they wanted a modern home built with all possible environmental technologies in mind: from solar panels to a water purification and regeneration system for irrigation. And I did it. whipplerussell.com
Terraced, split-level home in Los Angeles— is not a task for a beginner. Especially if it is part of Beverly Hills. This is a zone of increased seismic activity. Therefore, Whipple decided not to touch the foundation of the old house once again, which seemed to him to be quite solid. And he erected a new structure on top of the old one. The old building was dismantled, and the new one was “integrated” into the natural terrain, subordinating it to natural differences. The feeling of “fitting in” with the environment is emphasized by the combination of natural materials of various textures: glass, metal, stone and plaster. And the main means of expression was the stepped dynamics of the form — the rhythm of horizontal and vertical planes.
The interior is typically modernist.technique - the flow of spaces, which is created by different ceiling heights. Because of this, even the largest and most open rooms in a huge house feel proportionate to a person.
Mark Whipple, principal of Whipple Russell architects:— One of the most interesting and successful solutions is the correct glazing of the facades. It was important for us to maintain the idea of continuing nature inside the house. So that a journey through the house would be accompanied by a journey through the garden and the Hollywood Hills with their divine view. To do this, we used energy-efficient tempered glass, and maintained a system of transparent partitions and open corridors throughout the house in such a way that from almost any part of it you could see the surrounding landscape. These visual “bridges” connect and permeate all levels. whipplerussell.com
Half of these "glass walls" are equipped withspecial lifting or sliding mechanisms. And almost the entire lower level of the house can be transformed into a terrace open to all the winds. On the closed walls there are paintings and TVs. There are 19 of them in the house. The sports agent's family constantly watches broadcasts. The largest of the screens, hanging in the living room, with a diagonal of 260 cm, is the center of family life. While Stephen watches what his clients are doing, Brenda and the children discuss the past day.
A tall, floating staircase leads to fivebedrooms located on the level above. And on the roof, hidden between the solar panels, is another wonderful terrace - for watching sunsets and fireworks on Independence Day. On the lowest level is a recreation area with a ping-pong table, a bowling alley - if requested by children - and windows .
Stephen Dubin, home owner:— Our friends laugh that we didn’t think about them, 40-year-olds, when we designed this. In fact, water and sunlight create an amazing play of reflections inside the room. You can watch it endlessly. Although the house is furnished rather sparingly, and some even consider it minimalist, we are not fans of minimalism at all. It gives the interiors a very monotonous, faceless look. We like brightness, richness and a bit of humor.
Family decorator Janna LevensteinLevenstein captured this message very well, using bold and unusual pops of color to highlight the architecture. The wood and steel table is surrounded by orange-upholstered chairs, the kitchen is lined with apple-lemon lacquer cabinets, and the pool is surrounded by fuchsia lounge chairs. The family hates clutter, and Whipple has come up with a world of hidden storage in the home, where every last detail is thought out.
Mark Whipple, principal of Whipple Russell architects:— I first encountered people who attach such great importance to this. But then I realized that they were right. They did not want to waste energy on constantly pulling each other up and getting irritated, so they asked me to think through everything so that things would “put away” themselves exactly where they needed to be. And then I offered them a “role-playing” game. We played out every typical domestic conflict with all family members: we came home from work, parked the car in the garage, entered the house — where do you want to throw the keys? Where do you put your bag? Where do you put the groceries? And so on. whipplerussell.com
The owners claim that everything turned out as plannedIt should. Even better. Guests who find themselves in this house for the first time invariably ask: "Where do you keep your toothbrushes?" Stephen and Brenda never answer them - the house must have its secrets.
Solar Powered Home in Beverly Hills – etk-fashion.com
