Project: Crescent Drive
Architects: Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
Location: Beverly Hills, California, United States
Area: 3,000 sf
Photographs by: Matthew Millman
Crescent Drive by Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
Crescent Drive is a contemporary and warm residence designed for a young couple and their newborn child. The architects respected the traditional Spanish-styled homes in the neighborhood while incorporating a modern twist. The house features stucco, concrete, and wood as its primary materials, and a pool, landscaping, and a private entry sequence maximize exterior space on the tight 6,000 square foot lot.
The interior showcases minimal materials, timeless furniture, and bespoke elements inspired by Japanese architecture. In the main living area, floor-to-ceiling glass-doors open to the backyard and pool, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living. The upstairs master suite includes his and her bathrooms and closets, a workout room, home office, and two bedroom suites.
Overall, Crescent Drive is a powerful yet calming modern home, that provides a respite in the midst of Beverly Hills.
Light, simplicity and materiality were the guiding design elements for this modest 3,000 square foot residence for a young couple and their newborn child. Respectful to a neighborhood mainly consisting of Spanish-styled homes from the 1940s, scale and mass were kept comparable.
Materials traditionally used in Spanish houses were incorporated – all but with a modern twist; a straightforward composition of stucco, concrete and wood produced both a contemporary and warm respite in this urban setting. The house incorporates a pool, strategic landscaping and a private entry sequence to maximize exterior space on the 6,000 sf lot.
A “series of choreographed experiences” create an urban oasis in the midst of Beverly Hills on this tight site. The interior design showcases minimal materials and timeless furniture pieces along with a growing modern art collection including a series of Los Angeles architectural photography. Myriad bespoke elements throughout the house recall the powerful simplicity of Japanese architecture, providing moments for reflection and aesthetic display.
In the main living area, bold floor-to-ceiling glass-doors define the room. With these pocketed away entirely, the living and dining seamlessly open to the back yard and pool, increasing the sense of outdoor space and giving the illusion of a much bigger home while taking full advantage of the California climate. A sculptural walnut staircase anchors the living area on the opposite end, while a board-formed concrete wall with integrated American-walnut casework and paneling ties the composition together.
Upstairs, the master suite, with his and her bathrooms and closets, opens to a balcony overlooking the backyard and beyond to the distant glittering skyline. The comfortable design of this level also provides a workout room and home office with treetop views, and two bedroom suites, perfect for this growing family’s needs.
The private entry court includes a soothing water feature, and sums up the modern home as one of powerful simplicity and calm reflection.
