W R I T T E N BY C O N S TA N C E D U N N
When Robert Sweet was asked to design an up-to-date residence on a lengthy, slender
South Bay lot, where a late-1920s home once stood, he decided to start wholly anew. "We
took the original home down to the foundation, with maybe a one perimeter wall," he says,
"then recycled the foundation to the new house to keep some of the lineage of the original
structure." The end result is a smart-looking Modernist place that skillfully encases open-air
gathering spaces and pipes in sunlight via strategically placed windows and skylights, plus
a central courtyard.
"Most of the lots in the South Bay are relatively narrow, but this one was exceptionally
long," notes Sweet. At the front, the home is all smooth, angular stucco, but move along
and you'll find hearty, cedar-plank cladding along the generous private courtyard—carved
from the interior and onto which all public rooms open. The courtyard is replete with
dining and lounging spaces and primed for year-round use by way of a radiant floor
system. A snack counter, an outdoor shower and a fireplace—the latter built from patio
bricks used in the former home—are charming outdoor touches, while inside, perks
include a sauna and steam shower.
From optimizing a slender lot and updating a 1950s ranch home, to creating an instant annex and
enlarging a cozy Craftsman, DIGS presents four dierent takes on maximizing space in the modern age
SPACES
S M A L L
ASKINNYLOTBECOMES
ANOASISOFFRESHAIRLIVING
WHERE Manhattan Beach, CA
WHO ras-a, inc.
PHOTOS BY Chang Kyun Kim, courtesy of ras-a, inc.
