Angular House With a Hidden Floor And Scenic Views

Los Angeles-based designer and architect Clive Wilkinson recently managed to turn his dream of creating a floating home into a reality. His studio designed and built the architect’s own family home in Los Angeles and came up with a very interesting concept for it. The inspiration came from all the neighboring structure that had futuristic, spaceship-like designs and the fact that the house sits on top of a steep site similar to some triangle-shaped lots helped a lot.

From the street, the house appears to be only two floors tall, the same as its neighbors
From the street, the house appears to be only two floors tall, the same as its neighbors

From the street, it looks as if there’s only two levels, one clad in black zinc panels with a very angular and geometric shape sitting on top of a flat floor built-in sand-blasted concrete. There is in fact a third floor below these two which remains hidden from viewed from the front. This was possible thanks to the sloping nature of the site.

When viewed from the opposite however, the house reveals its third floor situated below the two visible ones
When viewed from the opposite however, the house reveals its third floor situated below the two visible ones
The view from the top is amazing and was finally revealed once the old existing structure was demolished and the vegetation was removed
The view from the top is amazing and was finally revealed once the old existing structure was demolished and the vegetation was removed

The top floor is the most spectacular-looking one. It’s partially cantilevered and supported by stilts, forming a terrace at the rear of the house and a covered space below. The true scale of the house can only be appreciated from the side opposite to the street and shows an image quite different from that of the front facade. The entrance and garage are positioned on the middle floor which is level with the street.

The two bottom floors are clad in sand-blasted concrete and give the house a textured and coastal look
The two bottom floors are clad in sand-blasted concrete and give the house a textured and coastal look
The top floor is partially cantilevered and supported by stilts which created a covered terrace below
The top floor is partially cantilevered and supported by stilts which created a covered terrace below
The kitchen is placed along one of the walls and has a gorgeous island made of veined stone
The kitchen is placed along one of the walls and has a gorgeous island made of veined stone
Wooden beams cover the walls and ceilings on the top floor, creating a very warm and inviting environment
Wooden beams cover the walls and ceilings on the top floor, creating a very warm and inviting environment

A wooden staircase framed by black panels leads to the living area situated above or to the lower section of the house. The living room, kitchen and dining area are all blended into a single large space at the top. Wooden beams decorate the walls and ceilings, giving this area a really cool, attic-like appearance.

Occasional splashes of color break up the minimalistic and bright interior design, giving each space a unique identity
Occasional splashes of color break up the minimalistic and bright interior design, giving each space a unique identity
The lower level of the house which is not visible from the street contains three bedrooms, a home gym and a playroom
The lower level of the house which is not visible from the street contains three bedrooms, a home gym and a playroom
Large mirrors help to make the bathrooms look larger and more open by reflecting the spectacular views
Large mirrors help to make the bathrooms look larger and more open by reflecting the spectacular views
Full-height windows frame the scenic views and act as focal points for the bedrooms
Full-height windows frame the scenic views and act as focal points for the bedrooms
The attic-like top floor has an unusual geometry which gives some of a spaces asymmetrical layouts
The attic-like top floor has an unusual geometry which gives some of a spaces asymmetrical layouts
At the back of the site there's also a large swimming pool which extends over the sloping site
At the back of the site there’s also a large swimming pool which extends over the sloping site