Edward Ogosta Architecture

Location: Culver City, California
Date: 2017-present
Status: Phase I Construction Complete

Project Description:
The Fraternal Twins House consists of two similar-but-different “sibling” buildings, which together frame a secluded interior courtyard. The larger main house building sits at the extreme rear of the lot to obscure views from neighboring homes which overlooked the property, while at the front, a low-lying building provides garage, studio, and entry functions along the street. A series of spatial thresholds define a linear sequential progression through the site: from the street, one passes through the front door into an elongated breezeway, which leads to the lush interior courtyard. From there, a wide wall of glass doors opens into the main house living area, after which the path rises to the second floor via a skylit staircase completely clad in milled wood, finally culminating in the main bedroom with views back across the courtyard. The two buildings are further related via a material palette of impeccable quality, consisting of board-formed concrete, clear-grade cedar, poured terrazzo floors, and expansive Vitrocsa windows. The resulting composition of buildings replaces the conventions of a singular “backyard” with a shared “middle-yard”, thus directing views, movement, and activity to the serene interior heart of the site.