Perched on a winding hillside street in Los Angeles, the remodel of 5630 W. Hill Oak Dr. was an opportunity to push creative boundaries. Designed as a flip house for a developer, this project allowed for bold architectural decisions that redefined the existing structure while enhancing its relationship with the site.
The house maintains privacy from the narrow street while opening the rooms to the backyard, where the view is. Set within a neighborhood shaped by some of the city’s most innovative designers, the Hill Oak House contributes to this architectural lineage with its contemporary yet site-responsive approach. It emerges as an unexpected moment along the narrow, winding road—its presence striking yet seamlessly integrated into its surroundings.
A defining move was the transformation of the home’s outdated mansard roof. Instead of simply removing it, we reinterpreted its geometry—stripping away the original material and mirroring the same angled form at the base. This approach resulted in a striking, contemporary facade that stands out while maintaining a subtle dialogue with the neighborhood’s architectural legacy. The visual impact was further amplified by a plaster slat system, adding depth and texture to the home’s street presence.
The house maintains privacy from the narrow street while opening the rooms to the backyard, where the view is. Set within a neighborhood shaped by some of the city’s most innovative designers, the Hill Oak House contributes to this architectural lineage with its contemporary yet site-responsive approach. It emerges as an unexpected moment along the narrow, winding road—its presence striking yet seamlessly integrated into its surroundings.
At the rear, a dramatic transformation unfolded with the addition of an expansive deck and a sculptural stair leading to the garden. Designed as an exaggerated, triangular form, the stair is wide enough to accommodate groups descending together, doubling as a social seating area reminiscent of theater steps. This intervention not only improved circulation but also created a strong indoor-outdoor connection, reinforcing the home’s relationship with its hillside setting.
At the rear, a dramatic transformation unfolded with the addition of an expansive deck and a sculptural stair leading to the garden. Designed as an exaggerated, triangular form, the stair is wide enough to accommodate groups descending together, doubling as a social seating area reminiscent of theater steps. This intervention not only improved circulation but also created a strong indoor-outdoor connection, reinforcing the home’s relationship with its hillside setting. The lower deck was structurally reinforced to connect the family room, kitchen, and den, ensuring a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Steel beams, shear walls, and reinforced concrete footings were integrated to meet hillside structural and seismic requirements.
The interior spaces underwent dramatic transformations, significantly improving natural light and connectivity to the outdoors. The master bedroom and bathroom, along with the guest bedrooms and bathrooms, were redesigned to open up to the rear yard through extensive doors and windows. The existing house lacked natural light, but the new layout introduced abundant daylight by strategically capturing the fantastic views and enhancing spatial flow.
