Aldama
House
A vacant,
but steep,
lot in a historic
neighborhood
North Building Elevation ^
Process
1 / Topographic Site Analysis
2 / Baseline Hillside Ordinance
3 / Zoning Adjustment
4 / Design Iteration Lifestyle Analysis
5 / Permitting
6 / Construction Bidding
7 / Building
8 / Interior Finishes
Site Survey
Baseline Hillside Ordinance
Adopted in 2011 by the City Council of Los Angeles, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance endeavors to limit any extent of mansionization on hillside properties in Los Angeles. It limits the potential square footage of a home based upon the floor area ratio determined through a slope band analysis (above). This ordinance also outlines standards for setbacks, building height, and overall grading of a lot.
Zoning Adjustment
Before any building could occur a zoning adjustment was required from Los Angeles City Planning to permit a new single-family home on a substandard lot.
East Building Elevation ^
Four floors can be better than two… especially on a hill.
With the future residents, we rethought the typical flow of a house, deviating from a typical two-story single-family home. The small parcel size and steep grade required the design of a unique residence. The square floor plan allows for sweeping views down the hill the home sits atop. The small floor plate flows over four floors with a central floor for daily life, bounded by sleeping areas on the floors above and below.
