A combined car park and terrace covers the roof of this hillside house in Los Angeles by Californian studio Anonymous Architects (+ slideshow).
Anonymous Architects designed the single-storey home for an actor. It is situated on the edge of a steep slope, so the floors are arranged from top to bottom, with an entrance on the roof and rooms on the level below.
"The added benefit of providing the parking and the house as the same structure is to eliminate the need for additional foundations and walls for a garage," said architect Simon Storey.
"The inversion moves the typical ground floor of the house up on the roof, and makes the simple act of arriving home and driving onto the roof of the house a surprise every time," he added.
Supported by chunky concrete columns, the house appears to be thrusting away from the edge of the slope. A recessed balcony offers views of the San Gabriel Mountains to the north east of the city.
A kitchen sits at the centre of the plan and forms the corner of an open-plan living room, while three bedrooms and two bathrooms are positioned around the other side of the house.
A bridge connects the roof with the street, providing an entrance for both cars and pedestrians.
Other projects by Anonymous Architects include a tiny house with only three rooms lifted off the hillside by a set of concrete pilotis and a 4.5 metre-wide house inspired by narrow homes in Japan.
See more projects by Anonymous Architects »
See more concrete architecture and design »
Photography is by Steve King.
Here's a project description from the architects:
Car Park House
Starting with a vacant lot with a very steep down-slope from the street, the design of the house places the carport on the roof with the residence below. In addition to being a dramatic shift of expectations, it is also a logical response to the building code which requires parking for two vehicles.
This inversion moves the typical ground floor of the house up on the roof and makes the simple act of arriving home – and driving onto the roof of the house - a surprise every time. The roof is also usable as deck space and has unobstructed views of the San Gabriel Mountains, which are to the Northeast of Los Angeles.
Because of the steep terrain the house is designed to float over the hillside. This reduces the amount of foundation required and also means that the only way to access the house is over the bridge - so it is truly a floating structure.
The added benefit of providing the parking and the house as the same structure is to eliminate the need for additional foundations and walls for a garage.
Date of completion: August 2013
Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles, California
Clients: Hal Ozsan/ Judson Williams
Architect: Simon Storey/ Anonymous Architects, Los Angeles
Lot Area: 8,477 sq.ft
Building Area: 1,405 sq.ft
Building footprint: 1,405 sq.ft - single level dwelling with roof deck/ parking. 3 bedroom & 2 bathrooms.
Method of construction: Concrete pile foundation with concrete pilasters above grade; steel (primary floor structure - cantilevers); wood floor, walls and roof