An expansive family home clad in Western Red Cedar leans into materiality to forge a deep connection with the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains.
At first glance, the Rustic Canyon Residence appears as though it has long been part of the Pacific Palisades, perhaps recently receiving a contemporary update. Its integration with the landscape and an unfolding floor plan suggests a home that has evolved over time. However, this three-storey residence is a new build, with bold design interventions inspired by an intriguing architectural history.
The designers used materiality such as brick, cork, ebonized oak, and black metal to both contrast with and complement the Western Red Cedar cladding used throughout the residence.
Originally built in 1923, the site’s first home was a generous family residence, remodelled by architect Richard Neutra in 1937. After being destroyed in 1993, it was replaced by a disjointed postmodern structure. California-based design practice Assembledge+ and interior designer Jamie Bush + Co were tasked with reintroducing the spirit of the past, transforming the clunky replacement into a home that blends organically with its surroundings. The 75-square-metre residence “Restores its lost architectural unity, paying homage to its historical roots while embracing organic modernism,” Assembledge+ founder David Thompson says.
The dining area features the Knoll Platner side chairs and a custom-designed white oak dining table by Casey Johnson Studio and Jamie Bush + Co.
An upholstered B&B Italia Camaleonda sofa in the living area.
The home’s treehouse-like charm is amplified by its timber-clad upper floors, where bedrooms sit among the treetops. Encased in Western Red Cedar, the bedrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the line between the warm, woody interiors and the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountain views beyond. Thompson says these expansive windows “Accentuate the immersive experience of living among the trees, providing a private yet expansive retreat with intimate comforts.”
Expansive windows and sliding doors span from the floor to ceiling, accentuating the immersive experience of living among the trees.
A Brutalist ceramic mural commissioned by sculptor Stan Bitters sits along the fireplace wall and provides an artistic focal point in the main living space.
Below, the main floor opens to a spacious zone with double-height ceilings and grand proportions. The living areas flow effortlessly onto an expansive deck, a seamless transition between interior and exterior, much like the bedrooms above. Outside, an infinity pool and spa stretch towards the horizon. Thompson notes that “The terrace’s softscape maximises site permeability using native, drought-tolerant landscaping while overhanging trellises on the southern-facing glazing reduce solar heat gain in the living and sleeping areas.” The connection between the interior and its landscaping creates “a continuity that harmonises the built environment with the natural landscape,” Thompson says, offering an ideal setting for both relaxation and entertaining.
The Atelier de Troupe Tempo sconce in the powder room.
The living space, with its deep earthy upholstery and curated objects, evokes the feeling of a canyon cave. Sculptor Stan Bitters was commissioned to create a Brutalist ceramic mural for the fireplace wall, which “subtly delineates the living and kitchen areas while infusing the space with artistic character,” Thompson says.
Externally, a thoughtfully selected palette of materials—brick, cork, ebonized oak, and black metal—provides contrast while complementing the Western Red Cedar cladding. Thompson explains that this materiality enhances the home’s connection to its environment and supports its biophilic design, allowing it to blend naturally into the Californian landscape.
The living space is drawn outwards through the deck, where an infinity pool and spa reach toward the horizon. The space features a vintage Ligne Roset Togo sofa set in tanned leather and the sculptural Petite Friture Grande Vertigo suspension lamp.
The bedrooms are housed on the upper floor of the house, offering expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains. The main bedroom features the Apparatus Studio Cylinder sconces.
The Apparatus Circuit 2 pendants in the primary bathroom.
Western Red Cedar cladding was used both internally and externally across the residence, aiming to enhance the home’s connection to its environment.
