Hollywood Hills

Gregory Phillips Architects has designed a striking new single-storey home set within the dramatic topography of the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. The project was conceived as both a refined retreat and a highly functional residence, addressing the steep hillside context with a plan that is at once compact, efficient, and rooted within its natural surroundings. The design takes full advantage of the expansive views across Los Angeles while ensuring that the architecture sits sensitively within the site.

The house is organised across a single level, allowing for a horizontal flow that prioritises accessibility and effortless day-to-day living. By distributing the entire program — living spaces, bedrooms, and service areas — along one storey, the design avoids unnecessary vertical complexity and reduces the visual impact on the hillside. The orientation of each room has been carefully considered to maximise natural light and frame sweeping outlooks, particularly from the principal living area and master suite. Secondary bedrooms are positioned to provide privacy while maintaining strong connections to the outdoors.

The architectural strategy employs clean, contemporary lines and a restrained material palette. Glazing is used generously but selectively, ensuring that every major interior space enjoys framed views without compromising a sense of shelter. The result is a calm, composed architectural language that feels appropriate to its dramatic hillside context.

A defining feature of the residence is its seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces. Generous openings extend living and dining areas onto terraces that overlook the hillside, enabling residents to experience the landscape as a continuous part of daily life. Decks and outdoor rooms expand the home’s usable area while responding to Los Angeles’ warm climate and culture of outdoor living.

Building on a steep slope required a sensitive approach. The single-storey form reduces the need for extensive excavation, allowing the structure to sit lightly on the land. Landscaping strategies focus on stabilising the slope with native planting and low-impact interventions, further blending the house into its environment. The residence is oriented to capture prevailing breezes and natural ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling, while roof overhangs provide shading and solar control.

The Hollywood Hills Residence was designed as a sanctuary — a house that feels intimate yet expansive, grounded yet light. The carefully orchestrated relationship between interior spaces, outdoor terraces, and sweeping vistas allows the family to enjoy both privacy and openness. Gregory Phillips Architects has created a home that combines the essence of Californian living through seamless flowing spaces with an attention to detail and luxurious flourishes which typifies our work.