The Casa Emigrazione project, by Steven Christensen Architettura in Santa Monica, California, received a Special Mention distinction at the Architizer A + Awards
This 6.8 hectare Emigration Canyon site, located on the highly traveled transportation route, shared by prominent emigrants from the Donner Party to the Mormon pioneers, is partially atop a ridge offering spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and the city lights below
This project preserves the natural character of the canyon and avoids the positioning on the site determined by the topography at the top. Oriented on the back side of the grasshopper and humble to scale for standards of proximity, the house stands out discreetly from the road and embraces the mountain. Rather than sliding along the slope towards the view of other houses, the shape of the building rises up to the small part of the site where it can obscure a peek into the city below without impeding views of the ridge in the distance. Meanwhile, the wide south side of the house opens out towards Dale Benchmark and Perkins Peak: 90 degrees of protected mountain views
The unique design of the house is characterized by the shape of the roof. The design began with a simple rectangular bar pattern, bending it into an elongated 'Z' shaped plan and section to adhere to the slope of the site and direct the view at the entrance towards Dale Benchmark and Perkins Peak
