Good things come in small packages. DNA Architecture + Design was approached by a couple looking to transform a dark, 1940s bungalow into an urban getaway. Located in West Hollywood’s coveted Norma Triangle neighborhood, the small house had charm but desperately needed a makeover. The existing house shoehorned a cramped two-bedroom layout with low ceilings into a small footprint. In addition to the main house, the property contained a dilapidated garage and a neglected backyard.
The original house was divided by a single-bearing wall that divided the house between public and private zones. The new design emphasizes openness, transparency, and creating a visual connection to the exterior from all spaces. All interior walls except the primary bearing wall were removed to create a visual link to the backyard. The kitchen was relocated to the center of the public half of the house, and the addition opens to the backyard on two sides. The private half of the house was reimagined as a single suite with an expansive marble-clad bathroom space with a freestanding tub and shower.
Natural light now floods the house thanks to the addition of skylights and newly vaulted ceilings. The street-facing facade of the house is relatively unchanged: the existing leaded glass window and original entry door were retained while new landscaping creates a private garden.
Status: Completed 2022
Program: Residential Renovation + Addition
Size: 1,100 ft² / 102 m²
Project Team: Christina Charalampaki, Valery Augustin
Interior Design: Lidija Wigram
Photography: Undine Prohl