The client wanted to transform the dark, circulation-dominated rooms of their 1940s brick residence into luminous spaces with crisp detailing like in the boutique hotels and spas they had visited.

One key to transforming the house was to remove the fireplace that bisected the main living spaces. Once the fireplace was demolished, the opening for the chimney became a large skylight that now fills the living spaces with daylight. Applying the same principle, we removed the dividing wall between the master closet and bathroom to make a large, bright space for dressing and bathing. Outside, the area that had once been an awkward circular dirt driveway became a serene courtyard with a fountain, a single tree, and a horizontal slot opening that perfectly frames the city skyline--a favorite yoga and meditation spot.

The guest bathroom also connects with the garden. In this case, the glass-enclosed shower (the only additional square footage) extends out into a private courtyard. A pair of “floating” concrete bridges over the pool links the main deck to a master bedroom deck with its own outdoor fireplace.

Space is the focus of our work. It is less about form and more about the energy and spirit of a space. We always look for the way to the greatest transformation with the fewest strokes - a design Haiku. The approach was one of simplification and amplification. Natural light rejuvenates the spaces, eliciting the harmony and serenity analogous to a cloud's interior. An abstract desert cloud resting quietly on a hill was a metaphor for the project.