Hillside Home Harnell Residence Oshatz

As if Los Angeles did not already feel like a movie set, this hillside home by Robert Harvey Oshatz rises up like a giant robot or hovering spacecraft with amazing views – matched only by offbeat modern interior living spaces contained in this strange form. The lofted living room pod is shielded on the sides to eliminate unsightly urban adjacencies while projected residents out into the landscape to make them feel more like participants than passive viewers.

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Hillside Home Harnell residence Oshatz interior

At three-dozen feet high, the conceptually central space of the lofted living room feels like it could be floating in the air but, at the same time, is comfortable, enclosed, semi-secluded and surprisingly conventional in its interior furnishings.

Hillside Home Harnell residence Oshatz kitchen
Hillside Home Harnell residence Oshatz dining

Other support spaces in the house are more conventionally modern and have varying degrees of privacy, natural light and access to views depending upon their function. An architectural model is one of the view ways to grasp this design in its entirety since so much of it is tucked away from view into the hillside behind the incredible front facade.

Hillside Home Harnell residence Oshatz underneath

More from the architect

“This 4,000 square foot residence, nestled in the Los Angeles hills, rises above trees and utility poles to engulf a spectacular view of the valley. To accomplish this, it was necessary to raise the living room 35 feet above the street. The exterior projecting fins shield the view from the poles and lines.”

Hillside Home Harnell residence Oshatz lighting
Hillside Home Harnell residence Oshatz facade

“The back of the house is anchored into the hillside opening out to a courtyard. From this anchor the living room floats out into space cantilevering 28 feet giving one the feeling of floating in space – instead of looking out at a view, one feels they are part of the view.”

“The structure consists of four levels. The street level has a garage with an elevator and an entry stair courtyard. The second floor is a garden. The third level is the formal entry to the interior of the structure. On this level are two bedroom suites and a playroom. The top level is the main living area of the house with living, dining, kitchen, master bedroom suite and garden patios.”