Dimmick Drive Houses by FreelandBuck: A Sculptural Residential Duo in Mount Washington, Los Angeles

A New Approach to Hillside Living

Nestled on an exceptionally steep lot in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Los Angeles, the Dimmick Drive Houses by FreelandBuck reimagine hillside residential architecture with innovative form and minimal site impact. Comprising two modestly sized single-family homes, each residence spans approximately 2,000 square feet and features an ingenious four-story configuration that elegantly rises above the terrain while preserving the natural hillside environment.

Architectural Strategy: Elevating Lightness and Scale

Designed as a pair of vertically stacked floorplates resting on a robust concrete base, each house masterfully balances between openness and structure. The concrete base integrates essential services such as a garage and a private outdoor dining patio, seamlessly connecting the residences to the steep landscape. Above this solid foundation, the homes elevate into a striking composition of smaller massings. A second-floor void strategically divides the façade into two distinct volumes, skillfully scaling down the buildings’ presence to harmonize with the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Capturing Los Angeles Views

At the heart of each home’s design is the maximization of sweeping city views. The fourth floor cantilevers dramatically, with expansive overglazing spanning the entire width of the front façade. From the elevated living levels, residents enjoy uninterrupted vistas stretching westward across downtown Los Angeles all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Interior Spatial Composition

The interiors of the Dimmick Drive Houses emphasize a loft-like openness. The main level features a fluid, continuous space that connects the front living and dining areas to a dramatic double-height kitchen overlooking the backyard. Although both houses maintain a similar balance between public and private rooms, subtle variations in spatial organization set them apart:

• Lower House: Defined by horizontally shifted floorplates that create dynamic cantilevers, adding an architectural tension between the levels.
• Upper House: Characterized by a series of rotated structural frames, interlocking dramatically between the third and fourth stories to create layered, interconnected volumes.

This careful manipulation of form and space ensures that each residence offers a unique living experience while maintaining visual cohesion as a pair.

FreelandBuck’s Signature Innovation

True to FreelandBuck’s architectural ethos, the Dimmick Drive Houses celebrate complexity, material richness, and a playful engagement with spatial perception. The project not only addresses the challenges of steep-site construction but also contributes a bold yet contextually sensitive addition to the evolving residential fabric of Mount Washington.

All Photographs are works ofEric Staudenmeier