Hollywood Hills House is a 5,500-square-foot remodel of a 1975 Spanish Revival residence, situated on a canyon site in Los Angeles. The project by CHU+GOODING Architects was shaped by the owner's interest in both photography and Italian civic architecture of the 1930s and '40s, as well as by the need to accommodate an extensive and varied art collection. The brief called for a synthesis of private domesticity and formal gallery, prioritizing indoor-outdoor connections, spatial diversity, and a coherent framework for exhibition.
In response, the architects reworked the structure with pronounced proportions and minimal ornamentation, using craftsmanship as a means of mediation between home and gallery. Collaboration with artist Mary Brogger produced cast bronze entry gates, providing a sculptural threshold that leads to a teal lacquered entry and a cubist-inspired descending plaster stair. A two-story fireplace with oil-rubbed bronze components grounds the dramatic entry volume. The design integrates midcentury and French 1930s furnishings, a custom herringbone floor, and a large-scale wool rug by Claudy Jongstra. Throughout, the architectural narrative continues with orchestration of natural light via skylights and valances, and a color palette influenced by Giorgio De Chirico, reinforcing visual continuity and spatial interplay.
Typical architect fee for a 5,500 sq ft new home here: $107,000 – $304,000Full services, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · BLS wage and Census construction data
