Montana Ave

This well-planned and beautifully detailed residence is located between two apartment buildings on a tiny plot of land formerly occupied by a 4-car garage and a small one-bedroom apartment. The 2,300 square foot home, on a busy commercial street in Santa Monica, turns inward for ultimate privacy, like early 'in-town' Spanish homes, where walled gardens and gated entrances provided privacy and shelter. 

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By landscaping the perimeter of the lot for privacy, and replacing much of the front and rear exterior walls of the house with glass, the distinction between inside and outside is dissolved. Visually, space is borrowed from the exterior gardens so that the interior becomes an airy, light filled courtyard.

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The living room appears as an open atrium, with light pouring in through the translucent glass walls and high-set window openings. Additionally, doors throughout the house are fitted with green-tinted, semi-transparent glass, contributing to the sense of free-flowing, unobstructed space. On the second floor, an open bridge spans the space between the master bedroom and guest room with a dramatic view to the open living room below and outdoor patio beyond.