It lies among the green hills of Los Angeles almost like a tree house. The 'Kappe Residence' is considered one of the most magnificent buildings in Southern California. Raymond Kappe's home is a contemporary evolution of the early Southern Californian tradition of glass houses. It combines modern aesthetics with an organic closeness to nature, and thus represents the blueprint for many later works by its creator.
When Lars Triesch chanced across the iconic house in Rustic Canyon a few years ago, a bold idea began to take shape in his mind. Not only should his home be inspired by Kappe's distinctive style – Ray Kappe himself was to design it. In 2017, Triesch approached the then 89-year-old architect and asked him to design a house for his family. Five years later, the 'Triesch Residence' stood in the midst of a green idyll surrounded by trees in Kleinmachnow on the southern edge of Berlin.
Open rooms, natural light
The house has all the characteristics that make up the style of its creator. Clean horizontal lines and proportions, augmented by open rooms bathed in light, and notable for the use of redwood and glass. The floor plan is designed in such a way that the individual areas inside merge seamlessly into one another. On the ground floor, the entrance, living and dining area as well as the kitchen form a single flowing structure without any doors.
On the kitchen island, Sync by Dornbracht reflects this dynamic approach with its progressive design language. A sculptural, self-supporting staircase leads from the living area to the first floor, where an open gallery connects the two levels. The master bedroom is accessed via a walk-in wardrobe that is directly connected to the main bathroom. As everywhere on the upper floor, a continuous band of windows is set directly under the ceiling.
Compositions of wood, glass and natural stone
The flowing design is also a key feature in the three bathrooms, which prove to be interesting compositions of wood, glass and natural stone. Polished Rauris natural stone is used for the floors and for the washstands in the main bathroom on the first floor. Two fittings from Dornbracht's Meta series subtly accentuate the minimalist clarity of the interior design. The finishes in Brushed Platinum harmonize gently with the grey of the tiles, intensifying the warm ambience created by the redwood timber. In the shower area, a strip of windows through which the light falls directly from above emphasizes the basic feeling of freedom.
The children's bathroom follows a similar design, as does the guest bathroom on the ground floor. A small spa area has been set up next to the latter. A sauna is complemented by a handmade wooden bath designed in the Japanese style by the Californian carpenter Andrew Brent. The Aquamoon experience shower by Dornbracht, whose round dome is integrated directly in the wooden ceiling, completes the relaxation experience.
More information:
Dornbracht
www.dornbracht.com