Feder Residence
Type Single Family
Location Whittier, California
Size 6,500 square feet
Status Completed 1992
Description
In a gated, hillside area in Whittier, California, most disconnected structures are. I will have to admit that a love-hate relationship was created when I first visited the site of Dr. and Mrs. Feder. The site had an exciting canyon view; however, the proximity of two adjacent homes interfered with the privacy of the site. Furthermore, the lot was filled flat at a level about seven feet lower than the street. My commission was to design a 6,000 square foot home with large formal areas for entertainment, and yet not interfere with private areas. To avoid lowering the structure to the original lot grading level and allowing the street to dominate the house, I decided to set the entry foyer dominate the house, at the street level and then split the floor levels down to the original lot level. A wood bridge supported by exposed round concrete columns leads from the street to the formal entry foyer. This allows the front landscaped setback and the water stream to underpass the bridge and suspended glass-enclosed stair, into the atrium and through the formal area, and finally connecting to the rear yard landscaping. The soft and playful interaction of interior and exterior spaces has created an exciting journey from the street to the house. My objective was to achieve a sense of harmony between the simple elements of the structure and the surrounding nature. The entry foyer has a direct view of the atrium from the east and a view of the canyon from the southeast. The foyer leads down one-half level to the formal living room and one-half level to the upper floor via the suspended stair through the atrium. The stream of water flowing from the front yard through the atrium and under the connecting bridge between the living and dining rooms suggests a soft and powerful relationship between nature and the structure. This bridge leads to the private portions of the house, including the kitchen, family, guest, and maid rooms, a second entry to the house, and the secondary stair to the upper floor and multipurpose room at the basement level. The angles and curved shapes enabled me to establish the longest exposure facing south-east (best exposure) and twist the structure for maximum privacy.