Project Info
Project Name: Mar Vista Residence
Architects: PPAA (Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados)
Location: Los Angeles, California, U.S
Nestled in suburban Los Angeles, close to the shore yet distinctly inland, Mar Vista by PPAA (Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados) reveals how restraint, geometry, and the intelligent use of voids can transform a home into a quiet sanctuary. Rather than making bold architectural gestures, this residence achieves its impact through what it yields—light, atmosphere, spatial sequence, and connection to nature.
Curved concrete forms and subtle voids blend with suburban context, concluding the project's emphasis on sanctuary through material restraint and environmental connection
Subtraction as Design Strategy
One of the first things to understand about Mar Vista is its use of subtractive design—that is, designing by removal, by carving out space instead of stacking mass. Working within the maximum allowable building envelope, PPAA carved out voids and patios rather than pushing outward. In doing so, the architects reshaped the program in ways that prioritize openness and environmental performance without increasing the built footprint.
Neutral tones and large glazing balance enclosure with views, embodying Mar Vista's geometry that fosters warmth through controlled natural light
These voids aren’t leftover spaces; they are foundational to how the house lives—bringing light, air, and landscape deeper into its core. The front and rear patios act as spatial anchors: they structure movement, views, and the rhythm of public and private zones.
Open entry reveals layered spaces and light play, underscoring PPAA's restrained geometry that yields to landscape and atmosphere
Geometry, Form & Spatial Sequence
PPAA’s approach creates a measured interplay between straight vs. curved lines, between enclosure and openness. For example:
+ A curved roof reinterprets a traditional gable—working around local height and design constraints while giving the façade a subtle, soft dynamism.
+ The entrance is shifted to a side, helping keep the front façade visually open to the front patio. This reinforces the house’s orientation toward outdoors-as-threshold rather than indoors-as-compartment.
+ Inside, alternating moments of openness and closure guide movement: large, well-proportioned openings align for cross-views across patios and allow the interiors to breathe. Light and shadow play across materials and form as the day progresses.
Wooden millwork seamlessly merges staircase and storage, carving voids for light and flow in PPAA's subtractive design that prioritizes quiet openness
Materials & Atmosphere
The material palette is calm but rich: oak wood, polished concrete, artisanal striated plaster, generous glazing—these details aren’t flashy, but they shape a subtle experience of texture, warmth, and light.
+ Interior finishes like oak and concrete balance warmth and coolness; light materials and neutral tones emphasize serenity.
+ Exterior envelope: the textured plaster plays with light and shadow, giving the house identity and depth at street scale while maintaining a quiet presence.
+ Openings / glazing are proportioned to balance transparency and privacy, letting daylight and views in without compromising comfort. Vegetation—around patios especially—becomes part of the spatial fabric.
Private & Social Zones, Flow
The plan is neatly divided:
+ The main two-storey block hosts the social functions (living, dining, kitchen) at ground level, with private spaces—bedrooms, studio—above.
+ A single-storey guest volume at the rear offers independence and privacy while still keeping connection to the rest of the home.
+ Patios, semi-covered terraces, and generous openings create thresholds between indoor and outdoor life. Movement through the house naturally passes between more enclosed, intimate spaces and open, more public ones.
Oak cabinetry and open shelving create tactile warmth, leading into the home's material palette that emphasizes serene spatial sequences
Landscape, Climate & Context
Being in a warm temperate California climate, Mar Vista leverages design moves that respond to sun, wind, and visual context:
+ Cross-ventilation is considered through aligned apertures and open patios.
+ Natural light is managed not only through openings but also through the shapes of the roof and the voids, creating shifting light and shade.
+ Vegetation around the patios isn’t just decorative—it gives visual depth, frames views, softens edges, and helps with microclimate.
Textured plaster walls form intimate patios, highlighting subtractive voids that connect indoor-outdoor rhythms in urban sanctuary
Quiet Identity Over Statement
Perhaps what makes Mar Vista particularly compelling is how it resists ostentation. It does not shout. Instead:
+ The project’s ambition is in its subtle experience—texture, proportion, light.
+ The façade remains restrained; entrance discreet; volumes modest. Identity comes through craft, not spectacle.
+ There is a consistency in material and detailing that ensures the house feels whole rather than made up of patches.
PHOTO CREDIT: Luis Garvan, Fabian Martinez
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