Redcliff Residence

by DEX Studio








Architects' Statement:

DEX Studio, led by designer Glen Bell, completed Redcliff Residence, a 2000 square foot home in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA for homeowner John Shields, a concept site planner for theme parks, and his artist/illustrator partner, Nat Reed. The hilltop home’s renovation included reorienting the first floor, adding a second floor, and altering the facade to bring in more natural light and highlight the home’s panoramic views. Both DEX and the owners sought to restyle the home using simple materials in creative ways.

An angled addition to the first story reorients the interior toward southern views and establishes the geometry for the upstairs space. The new second story is defined by a sloped roofline that is wrapped in bonderized steel on the outside and redwood on the inside. The redwood transitions from the underside of the roof to the ceiling and wall finish of the master bedroom. Decks on three different levels provide an additional 800 square feet of living space to supplement the main house.

DEX’s signature use of texture is seen in the custom exterior screens that visually tie the separate garage/studio to the main building. The motif continues throughout the home in the hanging steel and acrylic panels that enclose the suspended stairway and in the custom water feature that channels water through linear metal slots. The resulting property showcases DEX’s handcrafted, modern aesthetic while underscoring the relationship between the home’s architecture and the surrounding environment.

DEX worked closely with the owners and contractor to develop a holistic site that takes full advantage of the challenging topography. The owners carefully designed the exterior hardscape and decks to create usable spaces that progressively reveal the home’s architecture and gardens. Where there was once a steep concrete driveway from the street to the house, there is now a tiered system of poured in place concrete steps, landings, and planters. The owners selected native and drought-tolerant plantings to reduce water usage, while the terraces allow rainwater to seep into the soil rather than run off to the street.

About the Architects:



Principal: Glen Bell
DEX Studio 
Venice, CA

www.studiodex.com


DEX Studio is a multidisciplinary design firm founded by Glen Bell in 1999 that has taken over 30 residential, restaurant, and retail projects from conception to completion including Venice’s Beechwood Restaurant and Bar, Culver City’s Alibi Room, and Santa Monica’s Melisse Restaurant. Emphasizing hand-crafted details, DEX designs every aspect of its buildings to blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment. Our design team and clients collaborate to develop stimulating residential and commercial projects, which creates a synergy between both disciplines that strengthens our work as whole.