According to Ma Yansong, 45 and founder of MAD architects the project was inspired by the "hillside village" typology, the project develops a cluster of metal panel-wrapped homes, reflecting their pitched roof configurations, and that overlook a central courtyard situated at the center of the building.
The intermediate levels of the building, meanwhile, are wrapped in a verdant grow wall studded with drought tolerant plants that will exist as one of the largest such installations in the world when fully up and running.
Units surrounding the courtyard enjoy a ground-level grove of trees and water conveying the experience of a “secret garden". All feature glass exposures looking into the central space "with careful consideration given to the distance, orientation, and arrangement of balconies overlooking the courtyard," said architects.
The intermediate levels of the building, meanwhile, are wrapped in a verdant grow wall studded with drought tolerant plants that will exist as one of the largest such installations in the world when fully up and running.
Units surrounding the courtyard enjoy a ground-level grove of trees and water conveying the experience of a “secret garden". All feature glass exposures looking into the central space "with careful consideration given to the distance, orientation, and arrangement of balconies overlooking the courtyard," said architects.
“Los Angeles and Beverly Hills are highly modernized and developed. Their residences on the hills seemingly coexist with the urban environment. However, they also see enclosed movement at their core. The commune connection between the urban environment and nature is isolated. What new perspectives, and new value, can we bring to Los Angeles? Perhaps, we can create a hill in the urban context, so people can live on it and make it a village. This place will be half urban, half nature. This can offer an interesting response to Beverly Hills: a neighborhood which is often carefully organized and maintained, now with a witty, playful new resident.”
MAD Principal Ma Yansong
