TOLO Architecture’s Branch House is a Copper Cluster

by Marcy Marro | January 3, 2022 12:00 am

TOLO Architecture[1], Los Angeles, arranged the house in the round and conceived it as a cluster of program volumes, each with its own unique orientation to light and view. Each volume provides a primary view to the landscape, while also featuring skylights to offer a secondary light source and view of the sky. Lined with glass, an interstitial connecting spine is the home’s main circulation path and a gallery for art. A series of eight rectangular volumes are laid out across the site in a nonorthogonal layout, encompassing the living and dining room, kitchen, office, two bedrooms, master bath and powder room, and a two-car garage. Each volume balances the desire for occupancy privacy as well as views of the surrounding landscape.

By demolishing the original ranch, the architects were able to restore the native oak grove and return the earth to its natural grade. By working closely with an arborist, the new house is built within the oaks. To protect the native trees where the building volumes come close to the Oak root zone, the architects floated the house off the ground by use of concrete piles. To promote future growth around the house, new coastal live Oak trees and other native plants were added.

The Branch Houses’ main structure is exposed post and beam adjusted to the geometry of the house and made up of engineered Laminated Veneer Lumber. However, since the area is known for its wildfires, building codes required the house to be built with a wood interior structure and a fire-resistive exterior made of copper tiles, which is separated from the wood frame by a rainscreen. The size and configuration of the copper tiles were tailored to accommodate the segmented geometry of the room volumes. Additionally, the copper cladding will develop a patina over time that will future integrate the house into the oak grove landscape.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/tolo-architecture-branch-house-copper-cluster/

---