Location: Downtown Los Angeles, CA
Year Designed: 2015
Area: 4,500 sqft. Penthouse with additional 2,000 sqft. Artist Studio
Status: Completed

Perched atop the Grayson Building on Broadway in the Historic Core of DTLA, the new penthouse affords unobstructed views over Broadway and Hill Street for this loft-style private residence. The penthouse was designed to receive ample daylight through floor-to-ceiling windows on the East and West facades and light from above through a 45' long skylight. 

We designed the residence to be a flexible space for the clients large family gatherings and to large art collection.  The central space acts as a gallery to be taken in immediately as the elevator doors open.  Rails along the walls of the gallery create flexible gallery walls and also provide for a series of glass barn doors enclosing the domestic spaces. The structural beams above are left visible and create a secondary grid to hang art work. A master suite, office, laundry room, and power room are tucked behind the gallery walls.  The west side of the gallery opens into an open-plan dinning room, den, and kitchen, maintaining a visual connection to Broadway.  

The client's personal multi-media art works are integrated into the residence through digital frames, fully integrated sound-system, and a 10' tall TV wall with HD live-streaming camera facing down Broadway to recreate a view that is blocked by the property line. Beneath the penthouse, the client also has a 2,000 sf artist studio. 

Photos by Geoff Captain

Location: Malibu, CA

Year Designed: 2018

Construction Start: April 2019

Area: 6,000 sq.ft.

Program: 5 Bedrooms, 5 Bath, Open Plan Kitchen/Dining/Living Room, Guesthouse (1 Bed/1 Bath), 2-Car Garage, Swimming Pool and Spa

The Noranda Residence is a steel, wood, and glass house nestled between live oak trees on a 5 acre hilltop view lot in Malibu, California.  The house is a stunning and durable assemblage of materials, wrapped in narrow stile sliding glass doors, metal panel, and Garapa fire-resistant hardwood.

The ground floor living area, dining area, and kitchen all connect in an open plan to maximize unobstructed views of the ocean. The 5 bedrooms are distributed over 2-stories, oriented to face Malibu and the surrounding mountains. All living spaces open up onto outdoor entertaining decks dominated by reflecting pools on both levels.

Interiors are characterized by natural light, minimalism, and openness. Use of French Oak wood and micro-cement finishes abound for a stunning warm simplicity.

There is a separate 1-bed/1-bath Guesthouse above the 2-car garage.

Location: Malibu, CA
Area: 4,800 sqft.
Status: Completed 2022

Located on a 1.86 acre lot, this Malibu residence is a private get-away perched above the PCH and Zuma Beach. The residence features a poured-in-place concrete and glass main residence for fire resiliency, with views directed West towards the Pacific and to the South to a private outdoor space and swimming pool. A glass hallway connects the public spaces of the residence to the private master suite, tucked over the garage. The North-wing of the house also aims unobstructed views directly to the Pacific. The roof of the North-wing pops up bringing in additional natural light. A fully separate 750-sf guest house sits below the main house, tucked into the hillside with it’s own private vista to the ocean. Interior finishes will blend warm wood accents into the simple materials palette of concrete, steel, and glass. The open-plan kitchen boasts custom Baulthaup cabinetry.

The residence utilizes passive energy saving techniques and water conserving landscaping, taking into consideration material properties and solar orientations. Additionally, the main house roof is designed with a solar array; the North-wing and guest house are both planted with green-roofs to retain rainwater on site rather than creating additional runoff and to diminish heat gains. There is an additional 30,000 gallon storm water retention tank with distribution for landscaping water needs.

Location: Malibu, CA
Year Designed: 2005
Area: 3,500 sqft.
Status: Completed

Located on a 30-foot wide lot near Broad Beach in Malibu, the Kamen Residence is designed to be an open-plan beach house with a loft-like aesthetic.  The tight constrains of the site produced a long, narrow buildable envelope 76' long by 24' wide  The close proximity of the adjacent homes presented both privacy issues as well as limited access to natural light toward the center of the house.  The solution was to make the entire southern facade (just 5' away from the house next door) a translucent glass wall.  This allowed the entire house to be naturally lit while maintaining privacy.  The north-facing facade is clad in a porcelain tile rain screen to improve insulation and the durability of the enclosing envelope.  A concrete structural frame and floor slabs were chosen over wood and steel to minimize the harsh effects of the marine air.  Rebar was pre-treated with a coating used on offshore oil rigs to further prevent corrosion. 

The ground floor living area, dining area and kitchen are all housed in one open space to maximize views of the ocean.  The three bedrooms on the upper floor feature either ocean or mountain views.

Featured in Trends Magazine and awarded Trends Top 50 Homes in 2013.

Location: Telluride, CO
Year Designed: 2005
Area: 4,500 sqft.
Status: Completed

Modeled after Telluride’s famous Pandora Mine, this home is a welcome remembrance of the town’s history.  The structure’s steep angled roofline mirrors the terrain, while the use of COR-TEN Steel and cedar board and batten siding are nods to the gracefully aging materials of the late 1800’s.
While its concept is rooted in the past, its functionality and finish are progressive. The home is built on seven levels, stepping up the hillside to overlook the Sneffles Mountains. Locally quarried stone and clear vertical grain Douglass Fir were chosen to match similar materials on neighboring homes and to sustainable design principles for local materials use. The traditional materials are balanced with modern interior finishes such as the Bulthaup kitchen. Caesarstone countertops and ecologically-sound bamboo flooring that create a clean, thoughtful and minimal environment.

Wall Residence

Location: Malibu, CA

Area: 5,200 sqft.

Status: Under Construction

The Wall Residence is a courtyard-style single family residence in Malibu, situated above Zuma Beach in Malibu, on a generous 2 acre site. The site was a victim to the Woolsey Fire of 2018, allowing for fast track permitting through Malibu. The 5 bedroom home is designed to with family in mind and features 3 wings and a master suite surrounding a central courtyard. The Northern-wing serves as the entry wing and comprised of a large family room with a monumental fireplace. The Western-wing is arranged around views to the Pacific Ocean and is comprised of a large dining room open to a den and a large gourmet kitchen. The Southern-winging is comprised of 4 identical bedrooms, each with large south facing windows, and with jack-and-jill restrooms. A master suite spurs off between the Western and Southern Wings, complete with an attached office, capturing some of the best views.

The re-build of the compound will feature fire-resistant design wherever possible, including a full service sprinkler system and the highest fire rated materials.

Location: Malibu, CA
Year Designed: 2002
Area: 4,000 sqft.
Status: Completed (2003)

The Levine Residence is located on Malibu Road, a meandering street of closely spaced homes with side-yard setbacks typically set at 4 feet.  Both the city of Malibu and the Coastal Commission limit the buildable envelope and seaward development in a complex non-related set of zoning ordinances.  This results in a difficult balance of creating privacy while opening up views of the ocean.  The site drops off steeply between the road and the sand.  The wave up-rush comes to a point that is almost to the landward side of the site, requiring sea walls just a few feet from the street and enabling waves to rush under the house during surges.

The solution was to have the house with a frame of steel and curtain wall infill sit on a grid of concrete beams over concrete caissons drilled 30-40 feet into the bedrock below the beach.  The corrosiveness of salt air at the ocean limits the number of materials one can use because of deterioration.  Our design utilized concrete, steel, Argeton tile, and KalWall for their durability, corrosive resistance and environmental stability.  In addition, the steel was treated with a special paint used on oil rigs to resist rust.

Featured in Trends Magazine.

Location: Poulsbo, WA

Area: 6,000 sqft.

Lot Size: 2.4 acres

Status: Completed

The Brennan House sits on 2.4 acres of Bayfront property West of Seattle. The house is situated to take in panoramic views of the Olympic Mountain range and Liberty Bay. The split-level home boasts 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, as well as a family room, office, and bonus room. The bonus room is nestled into the pitched roofline, with custom built-in seating. The main level is open plan, allowing views to the waterfront from all angles.

The use of natural materials helps the house blend and interact with the wild Pacific Northwest environment. Skylights connect you from within the house to the sky while a ribbon of sliding doors can open up the interior completely to the waterfront. A custom water sculpture takes the rainwater from the roof, and incorporates it into the entry sequence of the home.

Location: McMinnville, OR
Year Designed: 2004
Area: 3,400 sqft.
Status: Completed

The Roberts Residence program calls for a lifestyle of vertical relationships interacting with seamless flow and movement. Conceived as three vertical towers, this + 2500 s.f. house is carved into the gently sloped but heavily forested site. The structure elevates in order to take of advantage of the stunning beauty of the lush green valley framed by Mounts Jefferson and Hood.  Philosophically the house orients to the east as a “lantern of light” capturing the primary views during the day and functioning as a beacon at night.  Organizationally, the garage level is used to separate the office functions at ground level from the domestic spaces above. Strategically located glazing and low-key, minimalist details reinforce the role of natural light in creating a feeling of openness. Durable, low-maintenance materials provide a sense of permanence for the towers whose upper portions float in the treetops and grow more light and airy as they rise. Because the exterior form is comprised a simple rectilinear volumes, the façade surfaces rely on projecting elements and extensions to respond to natural forces (sun exposure, cross ventilation, rainfall, winds, etc.)  At ground level, clean, natural site materials complement the carved effect of the rising tower.

Location: Pacific Palisades, CA
Year Designed: 2003
Area: 3,400 sqft.
Status: Completed

This house represents a wonderful prototype for "sensitive and neighborly" residential development on descending hillsides.  The proposed project incorporates:
1) A low to the ground building envelope and split level design.
2 )A very modest scale.
3) A low-profile roof to maintain views over the top and through the site.
4) Radiant floors for heating and natural cross ventilation for cooling.
5) An outdoor sunken, private, internal court which decreases noise but affords privacy during outdoor activity and allows the existing hillside and vegetation in the rear to remain in its natural canyon state.

Location: West Hollywood, CA
Year Designed: 1994
Area: 7,900 sqft.
Status: Completed (1996)

This residential 'retreat' rests on a very narrow promontory with spectacular panoramic views of the Los Angeles basin.  The design revolved around three distinct programmatic requirements: 1.) generate a sanctuary-house that addressed the client's desires for privacy, rest and repose; 2.) that the house could also serve as an entertainment venue that would accommodate catered events set within a backdrop of the client's extensive art collection and the magnificent views of LA at night, and 3.) to incorporate a home-office that would service the needs of an international business leader always on the move.

The architectural response was to create a modern acropolis; a series of interconnected buildings each serving a unique purpose, linked by a large central art gallery that would be the hub of the house when the client entertained large numbers of guests at a time.

Location: Malibu, CA
Year Designed: 1995
Area: 6,900 sqft.
Status: Completed (1996)

Located in the Broad Beach area of Malibu, this beachside concrete, steel and glass house overlooks the expansive Pacific. An internal contemplative court, with a gentle water stream flowing alongside a curving wall, counterbalances the turbulent waves that break on the beach. Board-formed concrete walls frame a richly textured interior filled with light and warmed by nautically inspired teak wood paneling. Glazed storefront systems both beachside and courtside introduce a steady flow of light and air through the house giving the interior a sense of openness and expansion.

Featured in Trends Magazine. 

Location: Malibu, CA
Year Designed: 1987
Area: 3,200 sqft.
Status: Completed (1988)

Part of our earliest experiments in beachside homes, this ocean sanctuary provides a place of respite and refuge from the stressful work environment in the city.  Two pavilion blocks connect by a bridge and define a protected courtyard, which serves as a counterpoint to the expansive ocean beyond.

Location: Malibu, CA
Year Designed: 2000
Area: 3,050 sqft.
Status: Completed (1999)

Stemming from the destructive 1993 Malibu Fire, this replacement hillside residence represents a non-combustible solution that addresses on-going threats of fire. This tower of glass, concrete and steel opens to the canyon, exploiting adjacent vista opportunities, and capturing the dramatic light conditions from sunrise to sunset. A stair shaft element functions as a passive solar collector, concrete floors become heat sinks, and cooling occurs through natural cross ventilation thus establishing a clear response to the natural environment by limiting energy consumption. 

The design concept examines material properties that reflect quality, permanence, and durability in the face of a combined seaside and canyon location. Wood construction members and plush landscaping options were rejected in favor light gauge steel framing, cast concrete decks, sandstone facing, and copper roofing. The landscape scheme explores xeroscopic materials that serve as an effective transition into the wild chaparral that surrounds the site.  As a result, this residence rests comfortably perched along a downslope, and embracing its magnificent panoramic views of nature's playground.

Location: Malibu, CA
Year Designed: 1978
Area: 3,000 sqft.
Status: Completed (1978)

Designed and built as a beachouse for a bachelor in 1978, this residence utilizes an open floor plan and high, multi-story spaces to bring the beach all the way to the back of the residence.  The angled, stepped-back facade maximizes the view of the entire Santa Monica Bay and the house's simplicity and openness enhances the view.

Recently remodeled by interior designer Richard Kaleh, the colors of the home were changed from the 1970's original palate to one of white and beige and accented by warm tones.  However, the architecture went untouched and the house appears as if it could have been built yesterday - a tribute to the original, timeless design.

Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Year Designed: 1985
Area: 5,400 sqft.
Status: Completed (1986)

Situated on a bluff along the California coast, this pristine house overlooks the dramatic seascape and responds to the mild beach climate.  Bathed in light, the interiors unfold as a carefully sequenced series of spaces that terrace down subtly towards the cliff edge.  Tall double-volume spaces introduce a sense of openness and a feeling of expansion that emphasizes the connections between the interior and exterior.  White wall finishes provide a neutral backdrop for the personal objects and artifacts displayed by the owner.

Location: Ormond Beach, FL
Year Designed: 2005
Area: 4,000 sqft.
Status: On the Boards

Another in the series of David Gray Architects' beachomes, the Stone Residence is the first on the east coast.  With hurricanes a possibility, a sturdy concrete and steel construction system is a natural, and durable, fit.  The structural system allows for larger than average openings for this region, each equipped with hurricane-safe glazing.

Located on the beach, the house is centered around a large courtyard with walls that move to open to the exterior, creating an indoor/outdoor living environment.

Location: Beijing, China
Year Designed: 2012
Status: In Design

The Jinhai Lake Villa was designed to use technology to improve building performance - both through a reduction in energy consumption and by providing unique resident amenities. The year-round viewing platform that can rise for viewing 360 degrees is located at the entrance to the pavilion. During the summer months it can capture the prevailing winds and, in a chimney effect, draw air from the house to assist in reducing ambient internal temperature. 

The villa will use the geothermal concepts (similar to the Hong Kong Bank Building) by drawing recycled lake water into a looped-pipe system throughout the house to moderate indoor temperatures while minimizing energy consumption. The roof over the pavilion has a large photovoltaic system to generate electricity to either sell to the grid or store on-site.  The other roofs are sodded to mitigate any storm water runoff and captured water can be used for irrigation.

Location: Malibu, CA
Year Designed: 2009
Area: 6,000 sqft.
Status: On The Boards

The Keller house is wood and concrete house nestled between 30 live oak trees on a 5 acre hillside lot in Malibu California.  Facing South, it commands sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean from Palos Verdes to Santa Barbara Island.  The house is organized around the views and a flat outdoor area with a lap pool.  The family has a screening room and large guest house contained in approximately 6,000 square feet.  The design encompasses David Lawrence Gray's consistent use of concrete with large scaled glu-lam beams exposing the structure and maintaining a fire restive construction.
 It will be LEED Certified and contains extensive use of energy saving methodologies including sod roofs, photovoltaics, a gray water waste and recycling system as well as the use of construction materials that can be recycled.  The house is an attempt to minimize the impact on the site by keeping the grading less than 1,000 cubic yards of earth removal.  The house contains large overhangs to compensate for the large window areas facing the south.  It uses cross ventilation to assist in the cooling and maximizes the use of insulation as well as state of the art glazing methods.

Location: Beverly Hills
Year Designed: 2008
Area: 6,000 sqft.
Status: On the Boards

The site for this residence is a typical flat lot in the almost suburban streets of Beverly Hills.  The house is deisgned to integrate indoor and outdoor living while maintaining a sense of privacy.  The design solution was to create two glass and concrete bars on either side of an exterior central courtyard.  Connecting the bars is an interior central stair and bridge housed in a frameless glass box that also serves as a double-height entry.

The clean lines of the massing helps to strengthen the open, loft-like feel of the home.  Wood and other high-quality finishes punctuate the exposed concrete, creating a warm juxtaposition with the cool simplicity of the glass and steel.  Movable walls provide the flexibility to combine a formal and casual lifestyle within on space in addition to allowing the owners to take advantage of the Southern California climate by extending the indoors out.