Flip-Flop House Takes Bauhaus to the Beach
Bauhaus is definitely not for everyone. This classically austere, crisp, sharp design doesn't get everyone's architectural juices going, which is a pity, because when it's good, it's absolutely amazing, as demonstrated by Dan Brunn's Flip-Flop house in Venice Beach, California. The home, near Los
Posted — UpdatedVenice Beach is where the rich and famous gather, and Brunn took advantage of the environment to create a home that opens beautifully out to the ocean and the beach, while still retaining privacy for the owners. Giant louvres along the side of the home open out to allow in light, air, and a view, while keeping the house cool and minimizing peeping opportunities. The huge louvres also create a display space for photography, critical for the homeowners, who requested that as one of the few limitations on the design.
Flip-Flop also blurs the line between indoors and out seamlessly, with rooms and decks that open on to each other and flow along an open plan. It creates a world where it's sometimes hard to tell where the house ends and the outdoors begins, all while maintaining privacy, which is quite an architectural feat. The signature clean lines of Bauhaus design are present in every aspect of the home, but it's not austere; the carefully chosen furnishings, warm lighting, and artful use of color ensure that.
It also integrates some universal design features, at the request of the owners, one of whom had polio as a child. Brunn integrated an elevator, which will eliminate the need for a costly and potentially ugly retrofit later, and other features to accomodate the needs of his clients. These moves are smart not just for the owners, who now have a home they can age gracefully in, but for any future residents of Flip-Flop, who will have Brunn and his clients to thank for anticipating their potential needs.