Silver Lake Guest House
A guest house perched on the Micheltorena hill of Silver Lake. It makes a statement about architecture, landscape, and how to live in harmony with both.
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Exterior_Front-1024x576.jpg)
Extending over the hillside
The more public side of the guest house extends over the hill with an outdoor deck.
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23-07-19-Iso-Diagram-1024x381.jpg)
Inhabiting the space between two walls in the landscape
The project is conceived as beginning with two parallel walls that get filled with program and carved away to make a courtyard.
Pathway to a retreat
A path leads straight from the main house, along the edge of the hill, to the entry of the guest house.
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Exterior_Entry-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Exterior_Wall-1024x576.jpg)
Framing the landscape
A long white wall with a concrete base marks the edge of the landscape, and is a mute facade for the guest house. An opening in the middle of the wall leads to a courtyard.
California courtyard living
The courtyard is conceived of as a continuation of the guest house space, just without a roof. In fact, it is the canopy of an existing large pine tree which provides a sense of shelter from above. The ground is DG, and a fireplace anchors the space.
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Exterior_Courtyard-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Interior_towards-corner-1024x576.jpg)
View toward the courtyard from the living area
A wall of windows and doors create is virtually transparent, promoting the feeling of connecting the interior to the exterior
View toward Silver Lake and the San Gabriel mountains
A large decks completes the living space
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Interior_towards-plant-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Interior_towards-painting-1024x576.jpg)
The living room
This room is filled with light, and views to the green landscape just beyond.
The living room
View toward Silver Lake reservoir. Built-ins for storage allow the space to remain open and light-filled.
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Interior_towards-chair-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23-07-18-Micheltorena-Site-Plan-1024x800.jpg)
Site Plan
The new building anchors the southern edge of the property, and spears the crest of the hill. A new landscape square and courtyard align, allowing the gardens to flow into the guest house.
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23-07-18-Micheltorena-Floor-Plan_2x-1024x263.jpg)
Floor Plan
One can see how the various usable spaces, including the outdoor courtyard, are all defined by the two parallel walls.
![](https://duttonarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23-07-19-Elevation_v2-scaled.jpg)
A wall in the landscape
Front elevation