Alan Voo House / Neil M. Denari Architects

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1167-2

Architects: Neil M. Denari Architects
Location: Los Angeles, CA,
Project Team: Neil Denari and Duks Koschitz with Joe Willendra
Program: 2,000 sf conversion of residence
Client: Eric Alan and Rhonda Voo
Budget: US $700,000
Project year: 2007
Photographs: Benny Chan of Fotoworks

an001_0007035_duplex_terrace1 1113-2 0972-2 51e-2

The clients for this house renovation / extension, a couple with three daughters, are a creative, democratic unit. The father directs film trailers, the mother is a graphic designer and illustrator, while the high school / middle school / elementary school aged daughters are all immersed in their own versions of their parents visual cultures. The family have asked that 1,000 sf be added to the site in addition to the existing 1,000 sf house.

1020-2

The scheme leaves half of the house for the daughter’s bedrooms and incorporates the other half plus new extensions in front and back into a public zone and a private bedroom for the parents. This strategy amounts to a new 16 ft wide linear house being inserted into the existing house. Multi-toned, bright colors accentuate the new pieces which suggest a graphic expression representative of the family’s interests.

 
 
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sizaman says:

boring…

 
# August 3, 2009 at 23:05
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Amanda says:

Nice Science lab

 
# August 3, 2009 at 23:15
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richie says:

kind of disgustin.

 
# August 3, 2009 at 23:49
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gwyn says:

How is that boring? It’s like some of the drawings from Gyroscopic Horizons brought to life. Thanks ArchDaily for high res shots and architectural drawings – it is always great when you include those, not only to see the substance of the project but also the style of drawing used by the architectural team.

 
# August 4, 2009 at 00:25
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NMiller says:

Having visited the project, I have to say it is a well crafted addition.

As a design, however, the project seems to relish in so many contemporary industrial design cliches to the point of fetishism. Like his previous obsession with 19th century dead technology (the Tokyo International Forum), his more recent obsessions with 21st “sharper image” design continues to give preference to style over any meaningful architectural (or technological) innovation.

 
# August 4, 2009 at 00:59
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    james says:

    ^NMiller

    WELL SAID

     
    # August 4, 2009 at 01:50
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    INawe says:

    Agreed. This project makes me think of the Jetsons… a futuristic almost art deco throwback but not in a good way.

     
    # August 4, 2009 at 03:03
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    Donald Bryan says:

    But what if this is what the owners wanted and they are happy with the design ?

     
    # January 18, 2012 at 16:26
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Chris says:

Just my opinion, but I would much prefer scraping away all the “Space 1999″ styling, and just leave a two-story glass box.

 
# August 4, 2009 at 01:45
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Xav says:

Hans Scharoun’s???

 
# August 4, 2009 at 03:05
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jubair Sideeque says:

i would say this is interesting.

 
# August 4, 2009 at 05:05
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Marian says:

I like the facade !!! nice intersection of volumes !!

 
# August 4, 2009 at 05:18
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maw says:

Great to see a built project by Neil Denari

 
# August 4, 2009 at 05:18
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zelda says:

actualy the tree beside the house has an interesting shape … better than the house , if you can call a house or a home … but I guess this is personal .

 
# August 4, 2009 at 08:09
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Paul says:

I think NMiller is seeing this project through the unflattering lens of Denari’s most egregious stylistic inventions. What distinguishes this project from Denari’s long (overlong) portfolio of eyecatching but rather empty paper projects is the deft way he integrates such an unusual addition into a typical suburban house. It makes the familiar strange, while still working quite well with the existing plan and site. And it does indeed have some very nice interior spaces, aided but not created by his usual vocabulary of plastic surfaces. That picture of the stair turning the corner below the skylight is pretty convincing to me. I’d like to hang out there. I think maybe Denari needs the friction of real-world conditions like this (or like the crazy constraints imposed on the Highline condo tower he designed) to make his designs really work.

 
# August 4, 2009 at 11:17
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I agree with Paul, and appreciate how the home is resolutely contemporary but refuses easy categorization as geometric or curvilinear, monolithic or transparent.

 
# August 4, 2009 at 15:10
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Tyler says:

Its obvious you all are architecture students, emphasis on students… That is a nice addition to the house. It is designed to what the client wanted and built very well. Curves and angles like that are never an easy job to take on. I applaud the firm for a job well done.

 
# August 4, 2009 at 15:38
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LEONEL says:

IL FAUT QUE NOUS UTILISONS DES FORMES CREATIVES!

 
# August 4, 2009 at 17:58
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Jason says:

Hmm… debate about the architecture aside.. that cost $700,000!? Is that just for the addition?

 
# August 5, 2009 at 01:11
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John says:

Very nice design only for people who can appriciate this kind of architecture

 
# August 5, 2009 at 12:10
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me says:

like it a lot!

 
# August 7, 2009 at 21:10
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MiKe Mecanics says:

Siza Man?!?!? :| With that posture of life, is easy to understand that you feel it “boring” …

 
# August 8, 2009 at 06:58
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Andrew Geber says:

what a sweet little thing

 
# September 28, 2009 at 05:46
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Chris says:

That addition does not mesh well with the existing building at all. Just looking at the first photo – the new window facing off against the (bathroom?) window – light pastel panels facing off plain stucco…. Looks like a pretty growth on an otherwise boring house. FWIW, I really really like HL23…

Interesting to see that he has such affection for the Hofmeister kink. It’s in NY as well. http://www.newmediacampaigns.com/page/the-hofmeister-kink-a-lasting-bmw-design-detail

 
# August 5, 2010 at 01:06
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    Teddy says:

    The “hofmeister” detail you speak of is a detail that Denari actually introduced to the contemporary dialogue. He was working with topological surfaces and fluidity in design. All of the “rounded corner” details we see in designs today essentially comes from Denari and his attempt to create a new California vernacular.

     
    # January 18, 2012 at 15:29
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

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Donald says:

I am posting this project on my facebook page because
1) It”s creative and beautiful.
2) I want my clients to see and begin to understand the cost of excellent design and construction – always a challenge.

 
# January 18, 2012 at 16:19
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5:12 AM Oct 29th

Alan Voo House / Neil M. Denari Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/G7jQChf via @archdaily

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7:20 PM Jan 18th

http://t.co/aOS5eWMm Nifty Neil @architecture

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7:37 PM Jan 18th

Alan Voo House / Neil M. Denari Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/afRcmKjf via @archdaily

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9:14 PM Jan 18th

Alan Voo House / Neil M. Denari Architects | @NMDArchitects http://t.co/WiVzbpqt via @archdaily

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9:59 PM Jan 18th

Alan Voo House / Neil M. Denari Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/u7bJlkkE vía @archdaily

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12:18 AM Jan 19th

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