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Home » Flip Flop House
House of the MonthResidential Architecture

Flip Flop House

The minimalist three-story house is punctuated by movable walls on the top floor and deep overhangs.
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
The minimalist three-story house is punctuated by movable walls on the top floor and deep overhangs.
Photo © Brandon Shigeta
The master bedroom has ocean views, enhanced by window-walls.
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
The master bedroom has ocean views, enhanced by window-walls.
Photo © Brandon Shigeta
A central glass stair maintains an airy feeling in the living room.
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
A central glass stair maintains an airy feeling in the living room.
Photo © Brandon Shigeta
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
Photo © Brandon Shigeta
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
Photo © Brandon Shigeta
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
Photo © Brandon Shigeta
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
Photo © Brandon Shigeta
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
Image courtesy Dan Brunn Architecture
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
Image courtesy Dan Brunn Architecture
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Dan Brunn Architecture
Venice, California
Image courtesy Dan Brunn Architecture
The minimalist three-story house is punctuated by movable walls on the top floor and deep overhangs.
The master bedroom has ocean views, enhanced by window-walls.
A central glass stair maintains an airy feeling in the living room.
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
Flip Flop House
September 16, 2014
Sarah Amelar
KEYWORDS California
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Architects & Firms

Dan Brunn Architecture

Venice, California

The story of the Flip Flop House began with a chance encounter in a camera shop. A young architect, who hadn’t yet built anything from the ground up on his own, casually met one of the store’s owners—and, within minutes, she asked if he’d be interested in designing a beachfront house for her and her husband in Venice, California. It was a dream commission: a prime corner lot, a 5,700-square-foot house, a $4 million budget, and a client willing to give this architect, Dan Brunn, creative freedom. Soon her friends were asking, “How can you hire an unknown architect for such a big job—what else has he done?” But she stayed the course.

She and her husband, who own several camera stores, had just three requests: an elevator (for medical reasons), wraparound decks, and a master shower with beach views. They left the rest to Brunn.

The result is a sleek, white three-story house: a minimalist backdrop for the owner's exceptional photo collection. It's called Flip Flop for the beach sandal, as well as for its pivoting facade panels, which allow for views and breezes while providing extra wall space for less valuable artworks. Inspired by the Bauhaus buildings of Tel Aviv, where Brunn grew up, he created a house that's clean-lined, inside and out.

The exterior, edged by reflecting pools, is clad in smooth plaster, with expanses of glass, shaded by deep overhangs. Inside are terrazzo floors, glass-faced cabinets, and a stair that seems to float between panes of clear glass.

Brunn designed the stair with “camera-like tech precision,” he says, referring to its articulated stainless-steel components. Seamlessly clad in the same metal, the building's structural-steel columns also have a sculptural presence.

Completed in 2012, the house has already led to other major work for the same client—and inspired the next-door neighbors to hire Brunn for an ambitious house of their own.

Gross square footage: 5,700 sq ft

Total construction cost: $7,000,000

Completion Date: April 2012

Architect:
Dan Brunn Architecture,
6363 Wilshire Boulevard,
Suite 503 Los Angeles,
CA 90048
tel. 310.855.3555

People

Owner:
Samy and Hedy Kamienowicz, owners of Samy's Camera, a photography store with several locations in California

Architect:
Dan Brunn Architecture,
6363 Wilshire Boulevard,
Suite 503 Los Angeles,
CA 90048
tel. 310.855.3555

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
Dan Brunn, AIA, Principal, Registered Architect

Architect of Record:
Dan Brunn, AIA, Principal

Associate architect(s):
Dan Brunn, AIA, Principal

Interior designer:
Dan Brunn, AIA, Principal

Engineers:
Structural Engineer:
Paul Franceschi

Consultant(s):
Landscape:
Dan Brunn Architecture

Lighting:
Dan Brunn Architecture

General contractor:
RJC Builders

Photographer(s):
Brandon Shigeta
(310) 698-2022

 

Products

Structural system
poured-in-place concrete

Exterior cladding
Moisture barrier:
Tyvek

Roofing
Built-up roofing:
GAF 'EnergyCap'

Windows
Metal frame:
Fleetwood 'Westwood 250'

Glazing
Glass:
PPG 'Solarban Low-E'

Skylights:
Sun Valley Skylights

Doors
Entrances:
Fleetwood 'Pacific 3500"

Wood doors:
Modern Doors Direct

Sliding doors:
Vitrocsa '3001'

Hardware
Locksets:
Baldwin

Interior finishes
Paints and stains:
Dunn-Edwards

Solid surfacing:
Caesarstone

Floor and wall tile:
Terrazzo: Hermosa Terrazzo Inc., used throughout

Furnishings
Linear light:
Selux 'M60 Recessed Fixtures' throughout

Interior ambient lighting:
ConTech Lighting 'Envision'

Downlights:
ConTech Lighting 'Envision'

Task lighting:
ConTech Lighting 'Envision'

Exterior:
Bega; Flos

Dimming System or other lighting controls:
Lutron 'Maestro'

Conveyance
Elevators/Escalators: Nationwide Lifts:
Cambridge

Plumbing
Dornbracht 'Lulu'

Other unique products that contribute to sustainability:
Large overhangs, shallow pools, operable skylights, fan vents, roof garden for future installation

Throughout
Terrazzo: Hermosa Terrazzo Inc.
Stair glass: PPG 'Starfire Ultra-Clear'
Stair rail: custom
Stair hardware: Accurate Manufactured Products Group, Inc
Door knobs: Baldwin
Fireplaces: Spark Fire
Inset lights: ConTech 'Envision 4-inch Recessed Fixtures'
Linear light: Selux 'M60 Recessed Fixtures'
Dimming system: Lutron 'Maestro'
Exterior lighting: Bega; Flos
Glazing: PPG 'Solarban Low-E'
Skylights: Sun Valley Skylights
Wall washers (near skylights): ConTech
White paint: Dunn-Edwards
Windows: Fleetwood 'Westwood 250'
Entrance doors: Fleetwood 'Pacific 3500'
Sliding doors: Vitrocsa '3001'
Wood doors: Modern Doors Direct
Blinds: Aero Shade Co.
Solid surfacing: Caesarstone
Moisture barrier: Tyvek
Built-up roofing: GAH 'EnergyCap'
Elevator: Cambridge Elevating

Family Room
Sofa: Flexform 'Lifesteel Sofa'
Side table: Molteni 'Domino' designed by Nicola Gallizia
Side table: owner's collection
Chairs: Herman Miller 'Eames Aluminum Group' designed by Charles and Ray Eames
Cabinet system: Valcucine 'Artematica Vitrum' designed by Gabriele Centazzo

Living Room
Sofa: Flexform 'Groundpiece Sofa' designed by Antonio Citterio
Coffee tables: B&B Italia 'Surface' designed by Vincent Van Duysen
Cabinet system: Valcucine 'Artematica Vitrum' designed by Gabriele Centazzo
Outdoor chairs, table, lounge: Gandia Blasco 'Flat' designed by Mario Ruiz

Kitchen
Cabinet system: Valcucine 'Artematica Vitrum' designed by Gabriele Centazzo
Range, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher: Miele
Hood: Valcucine
Sink: Blanco
Faucet: Dornbracht 'Lot' designed by Sieger Design

Dining Room
Table: Emmemobili 'UFO Table' designed by Ferruccio Laviana
Chairs: Emmemobili 'Nastro Swivel Chair' designed by Geoffrey Harcourt
Light fixture: LAB Arturo Alvarez 'Iki Pendant' designed by Rosario Hurtado and Roberto Feo
Cabinet hardware: Hafele
Barbeque: Viking

Master Bedroom
Bed: Molteni 'Night and Day' designed by Patricia Urquiola
Side tables: Molteni '808' designed by Molteni Design Team
Lounge: B+B Italia 'Terminal 1' designed by Jean-Marie Massaud
Cabinet system: Valcucine 'Artematica Vitrum' designed by Gabriele Centazzo
Outdoor table, lounges: Gandia Blasco 'Flat' designed by Mario Ruiz
Outdoor planters: Gandia Blasco 'Sonora' designed by Pablo Giron's

Master Bath
Cabinet system: Valcucine 'Artematica Vitrum' designed by Gabriele Centazzo
Basin: Duravit
Tub: Agape 'Spoon XL' designed by Benedini Associati
Sink, tub, shower fixtures; towel racks: Dornbracht 'Lulu' designed by Sieger Design
Bench: Custom designed by Dan Brunn Architect; fabricated by Systems 32
Outdoor lounge: Gandia Blasco 'Clib' designed by Jos' A. Gand'a-Blasco

Home Office
Desk system: Custom designed by Dan Brunn Architect; fabricated by Systems 32
Desk seating: Haworth 'Very Task Chair' designed by Michael Welsh and Nicolai
Czumaj-Bront

 

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