Janss Residence

Pacific Palisades, CA

This Pacific Palisades villa was intended as an interpretation of the client, Bill Janss’ three-part art collection including Native American pottery & rugs and a growing collection of modern paintings and sculptures.  The design for the home needed to establish a common thread to showcase and compliment three time periods, the first of which sets the tone for the house.  It mimics the vernacular of a European farm-house’s construction using indigenous materials to tie the structure to its surroundings.

The second phase adds thick plaster walls with small square openings; an architectural reference to the client’s Southwest artifacts.

The final phase incorporates the contemporary art.  The use of rigid elements, such as inserts of large expanses of glass to capture canyon views, skylights, steel interior I-beams and a slick rectilinear lap pool that is the site’s rear boundary, accomplish this incorporation.