Set in the quiet but hip, rural Californian village of Ojai, the old pioneer shack with its tired brick walls and small footprint was envisioned to come to life as a holiday home for a family of Los Angelenos seeking a weekend getaway spot. Simplicity and thoughtful play between the old and new were the two driving ideas behind this project.

Originally built in 1920s as a pioneer shack, we approached the home’s existing original walls with care and worked to preserve them. Around them we thoughtfully expanded the home’s footprint east and south to create more space for modern living. We pushed the footprint of a deck, adjacent to the living room and chose a flooring material that seamlessly tracked inside and out of the space. These two maneuvers allowed us to further expand the livable footprint for the family. With an existing tall oak trees providing a beautiful backdrop and a frame to the view of Alamo mountains in the back, the project’s outdoor deck became a focal point of our client’s family daily activities.

We worked to soften the landscape further and as a tribute to the property's natural legacy, planted a number of 40-year-old olive trees throughout the site. The rest of vegetation was thoughtfully chosen from within California natives. Custom solid aluminum doors and windows, built with meticulous care by our local fabricators in LA, were introduced to complement the original brick, creating that beautiful rub between the new and old. Muted brown brick clay paver floors from ORCA, a contemporary LA-based outdoor landscape company, helped to seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor spaces. Choosing to keep the pavers grout-less was an intentional nod to European brick floors, and our studio’s European roots. Inside, vertical grain Douglas fir wood accents, found in custom cabinetry and detailing throughout were introduced to add warmth and texture. The kitchen, with minimal dutch Pitt burners, and the bathroom fixtures designed by John Pawson for Cocoon, reflected the project's commitment to simplicity and high-quality design. Concrete, aluminum and tadelakt - watertight plaster treatment - were all added into the mix of interior materials tracking from kitchen to bathrooms.

Through this careful integration of old and new, Casa Rosario exemplifies our take on a timeless minimal material driven bespoke home, nestled in an oak grove and grounded in the quiet of its surroundings.

Photographs by Elizabeth Carababas.