Interior Architecture, Construction Management, Historic Renovation
Dorland Residence by Lloyd Wright, Altadena, CA, 2019
With a loving respect to its architecture, a 1949 Lloyd Wright built with “typical elements of the house of tomorrow” is adapted for today. The existing kitchen and bathroom (not original to the house) are renovated and a second bathroom is added within the footprint. The new kitchen aims to feel like a part of the architecture that has always been there. Its form follows the dramatic geometry of the house and its openness connects it to the surrounding landscape. With the removal of a wood and ribbed glass screen, what was once an isolated service quarter becomes the active, multi-functional center of the house. A mudroom off the kitchen is converted into a full second bathroom, extending the functionality of the 1,462 square foot house. The existing bath is replaced with a new layout and red palette contrasting its blue counterpart. Layers of paint, tile and epoxy flooring were stripped to reveal the plywood ceiling, douglas fir beams, lightweight concrete block walls, and original concrete floor. Seventy-year-old redwood reclaimed from the screen is used exclusively for the trim carpentry. New elements introduced are teak, brushed limestone and waxed uncoated brass that will age with the house. Laundry is added, built into the backside of the kitchen, the wood structure and concrete slab is restored, curtains are replaced with Kvadrat textiles, windows are re-screened in bronze, mismatched textured glass is replaced to clear, discreet ductless air conditioning is added and the original hydronic radiant floor heating system is now plumbed to a smart, energy efficient tankless system.