Perched atop the Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park, Contour 5215 began as a raw parcel, a blank slate opportunity to create a unique and enduring structure. Inspired by the works of Mid-Century Modern luminaries Richard Neutra, Buff & Hensman, Pierre Koenig, and Ludwig Mies van Der Rohe, we sought to create a home that had a clear through line to this architectural heritage, yet one that afforded its owner a truly unique and contemporary living experience.

Working backwards from a desire to create ample outdoor space and minimal vertical impact above the hill’s natural slope, we elected to recess the home into the hillside around a central courtyard. This allowed an indoor/outdoor flow reminiscent of a Japanese courtyard home, while dually creating a light-filled open air volume for the home’s second and third floors. A primary bedroom suite, spanning the entire second floor, features a hanging fireplace, dual walk-in closets, and private deck. Moving upwards, the home’s third and fourth bedrooms are situated at the apex of the structure, where a third viewing deck offers perpetually unobstructed views of the valley below. Flowing from the rear of the property, a secluded courtyard, conceptual pool, and terraced gardens have been meticulously sculpted into the hillside. At street level, the double-height garage accommodates the future conversion of the home’s pre-designed second floor accessory dwelling unit (adu), which was conceived to span any homeowner preference, from guest suite or office, to income-producing rental property.