View of the front cedar clad garage and entry. Each of the four upstairs bedrooms have private balconies also clad in cedar.

Norwich Residence

....... location: .Sherman Oaks, CA
...... program: .Residential
.............area: .2,690 sf
...........client: .Private
..........status: .Completed

The Norwich residence is a home for an ER doctor, her film producer husband and their two young children. The primary challenge of the project was to fit the relatively large residence on a narrow suburban lot, without creating a hulking elongated building.

Our strategy was to divide the building into quadrants so that it appears to be a cluster of four smaller building, rather than a large “mass.”

The doors at the rear of the house slide to create a seamless connection between the living spaces and the backyard. On the second floor, the doors open from the master suite to a large balcony that overlooks the pool.

Aerial view showing the flat roof that divides the house into four quadrants - each with uniquely vaulted ceiling.

Each of the quadrants contains a bedroom with a distinct vaulted roof, creating high sculptural ceilings. The quadrants are connected by a lower cross shaped roof that covers the circulation. Large windows are placed at each end of the cross, so that in every direction, one moves towards light. Each bedroom has a private “carved” balcony that acts as a lightwell, connecting the room to the outdoors, while maintaining privacy. These balconies are clad in cedar, which brings a warmth and softness into the space.

View of the rear of the residence showing the large balcony off the master suite.

CHA also designed the project’s hardscape and landscape, composed of hybrid indoor/outdoor spaces that connect the house to garden “rooms”.

The next six diagrams show the derivation of the house's form. The rectangular volume is the maximum buildable envelope of the house on the site.

The house is divided into quadrants to reduce it's perceived size.

Balconies where subtracted from each of the quadrants to give the bedrooms private outdoor spaces. The larger subtraction on the ground floor marks the front door.

Walls were added to maximize the first-floor area.

The roof was vaulted at each of the bedrooms to emphasize the ceiling height.

Resulting house.

First floor plan showing the open living space that connects to the backyard.

Second floor plan showing cross-shaped hall and double height space above the living room.

Transverse section through the vaulted bedroom spaces.

Longitudinal section through the flat roof hall that connects the bedrooms.

Norwich Residence

....... location: .Sherman Oaks, CA ...... program: .Residential .............area: .2,690 sf ...........client: .Private ..........status: .Completed

The Norwich residence is a home for an ER doctor, her film producer husband and their two young children. The primary challenge of the project was to fit the relatively large residence on a narrow suburban lot, without creating a hulking elongated building.

....... location: .Sherman Oaks, CA
...... program: .Residential
.............area: .2,690 sf
...........client: .Private
..........status: .Completed