Dwell and Dan Brunn Architecture Unveil Bridge House as Construction Wraps in Los Angeles

With finishing touches complete, the stream-straddling design makes its debut in L.A.

With finishing touches complete, the stream-straddling design makes its debut in L.A.

After four years of careful collaboration, the boundary-pushing Bridge House gets its big reveal in Hancock Park. An ultra-unique site with a stream running through it was the impetus for Bridge House’s unlikely conception – the innovative design extends more than 200 horizontal feet across the site, passing over the stream in the process. After breaking ground and barreling through transformative construction milestones, Dan Brunn Architecture and Dwell are thrilled to reveal Bridge House’s final form.

Taking advantage of the temperate California climate, Bridge House embraces indoor-outdoor living to the fullest. Several outdoor living and entertaining zones have been incorporated, while the large glass sliders at the interior courtyard completely disappear to invite nature in.

Taking advantage of the temperate California climate, Bridge House embraces indoor-outdoor living to the fullest. Several outdoor living and entertaining zones have been incorporated, while the large glass sliders at the interior courtyard completely disappear to invite nature in.

Photo: Brandon Shigeta

Traversing the stream directly rather than confining the design to one side, the home’s siting laid the framework for an immersive experience with nature – a central objective of the project. “The idea with the design was to un-design in a way,” says principal Dan Brunn. “To find nature and be one with nature.” 

 Treating the home as a portal through which to experience nature, windows and doors from Western Window Systems played a vital role in establishing the intimate relationship with the environment. The first of its kind, a completely custom Series 980 Double Pivot Door impressively spans a 20 foot horizontal opening, dramatically welcoming guests into the home. Deeper inside the home, interplay between light, shadow, and reflection creates quiet moments of ethereal beauty. “The bridge,” says Brunn, “is where the magic happens.” Bridging over the stream, the central corridor incorporates Series 600 Multi-Slide Doors opposite from custom-developed fin windows that have become a Dan Brunn signature – the marriage of the two yielding visually dazzling results. “We expected the light patterns to emanate from the fin windows,” says Brunn. “We didn’t expect the reflection,” he says, marveling at the serendipitous way the sliding doors bounce back light.

Doors and windows at the home’s bridge filter and reflect light, with the overlapping patterns creating a dazzling display of ethereal beauty.

Doors and windows at the home’s bridge filter and reflect light, with the overlapping patterns creating a dazzling display of ethereal beauty.

Photo: Brandon Shigeta

“Windows are picture frames to the landscape,” says principal Dan Brunn. In the home’s den, a pair of fixed and casement windows create the perfect vertical frame for the towering tree trunk beyond.

Photo: Brandon Shigeta

See the full story on Dwell.com: Dwell and Dan Brunn Architecture Unveil Bridge House as Construction Wraps in Los Angeles
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