Guided by the concept “discovery of the nuance”, the design seeks to establish a distinctive sense of place that balances grandeur, whimsey, and modernity, while promoting discovery and joy. Provocative in its own way, classical and modern references are deconstructed, reinterpreted, and combined to a create a nuanced aesthetic vocabulary evocative of old Vegas glamour.

Monumental in scale, the program is dissected into a series of carefully framed vignettes that celebrate the activities that occur within them. Various themes unfold in the house, beginning with a concept borrowed from the owners’ collection of “Hudson River School” paintings. Drawing inspiration not only from the expansive landscape vistas the mid-19th-century American art movement was known for, but also from the gilded frames that anchor and define the artwork within; the primary design concept of framing “portals” that layer, compartmentalize and connect rooms emerged. Thus, creating a curated experience that serves as a framed backdrop to life’s daily activities as they unfold.

Nestled into the hillside, the home is unassuming, revealing itself slowly as one descends the winding drive into the motor court. The spatial organization of an H-shaped plan breaks down the scale of the home to create livable environments. Branching off from a central gallery, a quadrant of gathering spaces at the center of the home includes a media room, a formal living room, a dining room with kitchen beyond, and a grand stairwell leading to the upper-level entertainment lounge. A perpendicular corridor located at the very center of the interior presents a crossroads connecting the opposing private areas and gathering spaces. Landscaped gardens that act as exterior rooms connect the architecture and exterior environment around the interiors to create a variety of functional, livable spaces at a human scale.