© Gerhard Heusch
PROJECT DETAILS:
KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DESIGNERS:
Gerhard Heusch Continues to Advance his Framework for Balancing Innovative Design with the Natural Environment.
Gerhard Heusch, founder of Heusch Inc. has unveiled a 1,500 sq. ft underground office addition to his innovative Oak Pass residence in Beverly Hills, California. The office space continues to advance the innovative design solutions employed by the architect in building his 3,500 sq. ft. home, completed in 2006 on an empty parcel of abundantly natural land overlooking Benedict Canyon.
The additional office space succeeds in integrating into its surroundings without disrupting the architectural balance between the fully-built house and the natural beauty of the land, following in step with Heusch’s overall vision for the property.
Supporting the design
Heusch’s architectural concept began to unfold in 2000 when he purchased an acre of breathtaking land that he was determined to blend his design into. With a landscaped hillside to the east and panoramic views of Benedict canyon to the west, he embarked on a project to balance his new residence with nature.
The plan he put forward was to build 10 steel columns to support an elevated house, which he successfully argued would mitigate any landslide threats to the built environment. The innovative solution allowed him to forgo the 15-foot setback by building a much smaller, less obtrusive retaining wall into a natural cut in the property. The design plan provided a platform that would enable him to build his spacious, modernist home into the treeline of the embracing hillside.
A minimalist treehouse
With 10-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, Heusch’s open floorplan ensures that every room of the seamlessly flowing living space has a spectacular view. To further ensure unobstructed flow, Heusch embedded much of the house’s infrastructure, including roof drainage, plumbing, and electricity, into the support columns. As a result, upon entering the front door, unobstructed views carry through to a glass wall at the rear of the house, revealing a beautiful oak tree backdrop that emphasizes the seamless connection between the natural surroundings and his built environment.
The interior of the single-level layout is framed by natural stucco walls and Brazilian walnut floors, with custom-designed furniture, cabinets, fittings, and profiles that further embody Heusch’s minimalist vision. There are three bedrooms, including two guest bedrooms that can be linked together courtesy of a sliding wall. Spanish marble anoints the guest bathrooms, while the master bathroom is accented by Portuguese limestone, including a soaking tub that was hand-carved from a single block.
In order to accommodate an additional regulation requiring a second exit, based on the home’s total floor space, Heusch made another innovative architectural tweak. To meet the requirement, he built a small bridge and staircase exiting the elevated master bedroom, which leads down from the hillside to a pool area and adjacent Zen-style garden.
