Small Environments

185

Barbara Bestor Architecture, Echo Park

House, Los Angeles, California

 e bold red-and-white wallpaper, custom-

designed for the architect by the graphic

artist Geoff McFetridge, frames a view of the

greenery outside the study. (Bestor has also

designed wallpapers with animated two-tone

graphics derived from the patterns of moss,

plywood, and freeway loop-de-loops.) Pat-

terns and textures throughout the house and

site constantly contrast the irregular with

the grid, natural forms with humanmade

interpretations.

Above  e illuminated interior stands out as

vivid blocks of color against the fi ber cement

siding painted a deep blue-black.  e lively

pattern of the study on one side is off set by

the glow of the all-white bedroom on the

other. Just as inside the house, exterior tex-

ture is applied selectively, with a balance of

plain and patterned or tactile surfaces.

Left Textured surfaces continue outside the

house with various hardscape and landscape

treatments that improvise on the rectilinear

fi gure of the fl oor plan.  e house joins a se-

ries of outdoor rooms consisting of concrete

pavers, wood decks, random stone pavers,

lawn, refl ecting pool, and vegetable garden,

along with abundant plantings and an arbor

to create a diverse environment with diff er-

ent levels of formality for outdoor living in

the warm southern California climate.

Texture

Small Environments

CD1206-49/4271

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