The Temple Hills Residence by Schola Architecture
Schola Architecture have designed the Temple Hills Residence in Laguna Beach, California.
Full description after the photos….

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The Temple Hills Residence by Schola Architecture
The design for the Temple Hills Residence is a study in connections. The project is an addition and remodel to an existing 1950’s post and beam beach cottage. Taking cues from the eclectic neighborhood the deign captures the essence of the existing cottage, and reinterprets the traditional post and beam into a unique residence. The resulting solution is a house of two faces connected through a thin sheet of glass.
Nestled into a steeply sloping 5,000-square foot site, the volumes step up the hillside to the rear of the existing home creating an ascending series of interior and exterior spaces, giving access to all levels of the property. While the existing home creates the traditional base for the house, the new addition exploits the modular nature of post and beam connections. A monolithic concrete block mass anchors the addition; from which structure and glass pin wheel off creating ever dematerializing living spaces that open up to the views as one moves up through the home.
At the heart of the stainable strategies employed throughout the home is the reuse of the entire existing home. In addition, solar orientation, deep overhangs and operable glass allow the house to breathe throughout the year with little mechanical assistance. The palette is a mix of renewable and exposed building materials, eliminating the need for secondary finishes.
Visit the Schola Architecture website – here.
Photography: Costea Photography, Inc.
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Seth B on 15 Jun 2010 at 10:59 am #
Very nice, the only thing I would have done differently would be using wood frame windows, but of course that would be more expensive.
Kristof Lenz on 15 Jun 2010 at 11:13 am #
I like this house, and I love the concrete block walls, but I wish it was all concrete block walls. I don’t understand the parts that are something else, stucco maybe?
I can see grey concrete blocks, grey stucco?, white stucco?, and yellow-ish stucco?
I would prefer just one main color and material for the exterior walls, which would then be contrasted with the wood roofs.
Arlene on 15 Jun 2010 at 11:55 am #
This is very appropriate for California. I could feel at home in this house.
TW on 15 Jun 2010 at 3:16 pm #
A visual mess. Way too much going on. On the outside and the inside.
Whilst I appreciate trying to match an existing house, this only ever works if you minimise the elements that date the old house (or at least I am assuming the timber ceilings are original?) or contrast the new dramatically.
Plus yellow and blond timbers with warm timbers? Never. And yellow paint next to blond timber in the bathroom and bedroom. Nope.
Dan Kraffinia on 15 Jun 2010 at 4:09 pm #
The concrete block is excellent, the white walls make sense, but why the yellow? Why why why the yellow?
Janice (from New York) on 15 Jun 2010 at 4:23 pm #
That fireplace in the bedroom is awesome.
marshen on 16 Jun 2010 at 12:07 am #
The bleached woods on the furniture and cabinets contrast poorly with the roof timbers and railings. Red or Blue kitchen cabinets would have been more distinctive and gone with the wood and great block walls.
The success of this design is that it is a major remodel that doesn’t look like one. Once some weathering and aging takes place, it will look like it has always been there, not something huge that was added on to something original and small.
Sash on 16 Jun 2010 at 7:20 am #
Excellent photography!
alex on 16 Jun 2010 at 9:03 pm #
I actually don’t mind the various wood colors. I probably wouldn’t have done the yellow paint myself, but it does help keep the place form becoming to cold. My favorite part by far is the step-out shower. Who wouldn’t want to step out of a hot shower and dry off outside in a private court(only in California mind you)? Awesome!
alex on 16 Jun 2010 at 9:03 pm #
Oh, and the concrete texture is fantastic!
BjZ on 17 Jun 2010 at 9:59 am #
I don’t know, I have mixed feelings on this one. The exterior does seem a bit busy for a hillside residence. And the interior is bit colorful for my liking. Also there seems to be a lot of levels in this house, i love split level layouts but geeze this house seems to rival a stairmaster!!!
Dano on 17 Jun 2010 at 8:50 pm #
I just love these kinds of homes — light, open, wood for warmth, concrete for permanence and solidity, great planning. Easily could live here!
aj smith on 18 Jun 2010 at 7:54 am #
Too much happening everywhere. Typical of an American house. Cluttered.
Co on 30 Jun 2010 at 10:50 am #
Wish their website worked so I could see more of their work and contact them.
Carlo on 11 Feb 2011 at 10:49 am #
The shower should be more private, but otherwise excelent!