THE BRENTWOOD YARD HOUSE
Many homes around the US today are designed without contextual considerations. In the heart of one of Brentwood’s oldest neighborhoods, you will find cul-de-sacs and ranch homes built in the 1950s. Traditionally the ranch home created well-defined front and rear yards by placing simple, broad-brick volumes between the street and yard. This approach offers little privacy from neighbors and was often disconnected from the outdoor space while creating awkward rear yard conditions for the vehicle. Often times forcing occupants to enjoy the outdoors with their car.
This project celebrates the natural elements of the site. From the ranch home prototype, the Yard House expands upon architecture's ability to define the yard, create outdoor connections, and offer a strong sense of privacy from the surrounding homes. The organization of the plan forces the vehicle toward the side yard separating it from the major outdoor living space. The solid forms and brick façade erode down from private to open as the program dissolves from support and bedroom to main living and entry. These eroded elements transition from the solid, man-made brick to softer, more natural wood materials as the plan moves closer to the trees along the southern edge of the site. The formal gestures of the building give directionality to the more important living spaces and offer guests knowledge of entry and movement.
Environmental Analysis
Part of the process for designing contextual architecture often includes sustainability considerations. The sun study to the left offers insight into the building's sun exposure. Existing trees and large overhangs near the south-facing glass provides shad in the summer and solar heat gain in the