Carla – Simo Design

The Carla Residence, designed by master architect Rex Lottery in 1964, was commissioned by Paul Trousdale in his innovative development of the Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills. The unique challenge of working on a historically significant property is finding the balance of restoration and renovation. The home had seen various owners over the years and unfortunately had fallen into disrepair. The original concrete block and redwood siding had been painted over so many times that its tactility had been completely removed. We felt that it was crucial to restore these elements to reveal the honesty of the materials. The rich redwood siding with the pragmatic geometric texture of the concrete block, create the interplay of texture, light, and color that define the house. The unique ability of great architecture and design is to be timeless. In our restoration, we wanted to bring the originally significant materials back to life and in our renovation, implement new materials that complimented and supported these. Our challenge was to restore Lottery’s original intentions while respectfully renovating to accommodate more contemporary living.