Sometimes design inspiration strikes in the most unexpected ways. In the case of MAD Architects founder and principal partner Ma Yansong, his vision for the luxurious Gardenhouse residential building was realized during a car ride around Beverly Hills, where he saw towering green hedges shielding iconic mansions, offering just fleeting glimpses of their rooftops. His impression clearly took shape in the complex’s living green wall topped by similarly peaked rooflines. Natural light spills into residences centered by an open-air atrium featuring lush trees, a reflecting pool and secret garden. This collection of 18 homes includes garden flats, penthouse villas and townhomes for lease. The design team at MAD Architects and Rottet Studio shared their insights about what makes this upscale rental property a tranquil oasis in a busy metropolitan setting.
Junliang Dixon, associate partner at MAD Architects, described how his firm developed the organic aesthetic for Gardenhouse. “Building the green wall from the ground floor all the way up to the third floor was like creating our own green hills,” he noted. “Houses in California often have skylights, tall ceilings, large windows and architectural staircases that are part of the design. We brought these elements to Gardenhouse. Every home’s living room has double height ceilings, and the curving staircases in the villa units look like a work of sculpture.”
Each residence is accessed by an elevator opening directly into their foyer, another way the building’s design offers a feeling of privacy that’s similar to a single-family home. Once inside, there is a well-defined sense of form and function, according to Winnie Wong, associate principal and studio design director at Rottet Studio. “Everything works well together on the inside. There is enough wall space for residents to display art collections, and large windows and glass doors make it light and bright. The layouts are arranged so people know exactly where to put a dining room table or couch. And we oriented the living spaces to make sure they are comfortable and have the best light and views.”
A baby grand tucked under the sculptural staircase is just one of the dramatic spaces in a Gardenhouse villa, according to Richard Riveire, founding partner of Rottet Studio. “All the two-story villas are different, but they all have a correctness in the internal flow that works hand-in-glove with the architecture of the building. The beauty of forms, architecture and interiors all come together.”
The living room opens to a spacious kitchen and dining room in this elegant Gardenhouse villa designed to accommodate the residents’ own individual style, Riveire said. “The interiors are very minimalistic so as to not take away from the setting and views; there is a very muted color palette that feels natural. We wanted it to be like a blank canvas for the residents, yet the materials, appliances and fixtures are all high level. There is no one singular style imposed on the residences,” an aspect that leaves lots of room for personalization, he noted.
The design philosophy at MAD Architects focuses on creating futuristic buildings that harmonize with the environment. “The human element is being forgotten in a lot of ways in big, boxy buildings. We like to connect to nature. It brings you a mental break from the busy life of the big city and offers a Zen feeling as soon as you enter Gardenhouse,” Junliang Dixon concluded.
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