Sparrow House

SPARROW HOUSE

Samantha Mink

Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink

ARCHITECTS
Samantha Mink

MANUFACTURERS
AXOR, Hansgrohe, Kohler, Leucos

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
C W Howe Partners

AREA
850 ft²

YEAR
2016

LOCATION
Culver City, United States

CATEGORY
Houses

Sparrow House
© Chad Slattery
Sparrow House
© Chad Slattery

Text description provided by architect.

The modest lot size and unusual configuration, along with financial budgets, set the constraints for the scope of the project.

Located on a unique street, the house came with all the great potential of ‘a box,’ mundane and ready for transformation into a home for me and my dog, Winston.

Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink

While the footprint and square footage had to remain the same due to planning restrictions, all doors were reconfigured, including moving the main entry door off the street, introducing a more indirect approach through a new garden.

The windows were recomposed to control and focus the admittance of light, by standardizing and shrinking all apertures, while slicing open the roof for new skylights.

Sparrow House
© Chad Slattery
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink

These simple moves create a clear contrast between the more articulated moments of light and the broad, sweeping light pouring in from above.

All interior walls were removed to open the space, allowing for new exposed wood beams and columns and ‘thickened partitions’ of functional wood cabinetry.

Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink

The assemblage of the millwork was made such that it could be constructed by myself and on site with standard lumber and a chop saw.

The exterior was clad with dark, wood boards whose black and brown textural depth transmute throughout the day and in different light conditions.

The exterior lattice, with newly planted bougainvillea, recaptures some of the initial spirit of the house, which was completely covered in vines upon purchase.

Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink

The result is a sometimes stern, but nuanced exterior, with an almost unexpectedly warm, bright, and comfortable interior.

The house is small and simple, without room for stylistic or haughty gestures, but with just enough room for living.


Sparrow House
© Chad Slattery
Sparrow House
© Chad Slattery


Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Chad Slattery
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Chad Slattery
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink
Sparrow House
© Samantha Mink


Sparrow House
1st Floor Plan
Sparrow House
2nd Floor Plan
Sparrow House
Roof Plan


Sparrow House
Elevation
Sparrow House
Elevation
Sparrow House
Elevation
Sparrow House
Elevation
Sparrow House
Section