Keogh Residence

KEOGH RESIDENCE

Venn Studio

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

ARCHITECTS
Venn Studio

LEAD TEAM
Gabbi Sun

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Rob Jones Landscape

DESIGN TEAM
Steven Hung

GENERAL CONSTRUCTING
Beach House Design & Development

ENGINEERING & CONSULTING > STRUCTURAL
Ashley & Vance Engineering

ENGINEERING & CONSULTING > CIVIL
Obando & Associates

ENGINEERING & CONSULTING > ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Norcal Engineering

PHOTOGRAPHS
Nils Timm

AREA
4059 ft²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Manhattan Beach, United States

CATEGORY
Houses

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

English description provided by the architects.

Nestled in a quiet stretch of Manhattan Beach, California, this bright coastal home strikes the perfect balance between sophisticated contemporary aesthetics and relaxed indoor-outdoor living.

This expansive three-story home and private ADU combine generous living space to host the owner's large multi-generational family, panoramic glazing to capture views, and a modern exterior massing.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm
Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

The newly constructed home rests on a hillside lot bordered by a busy public park and a quiet residential street.

The building was designed as a series of terraced boxes following the natural grade.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm
Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

The assemblage of the boxes was determined by the need for private spaces, square footage, but also a careful consideration of the site's surroundings.

The building height was kept intentionally low with the massing stepping back from the streets so as to be sensitive to the neighboring houses.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm
Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

From a pedestrian's viewpoint, the house appears as a two-story structure from most angles.

The house opens up in the rear to park views with a dramatic pocketing multi-slide door that blurs the boundary between indoor and outdoor living.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm
Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

When fully opened, it seamlessly connects the interior with the expansive second-story veranda.

The exterior of the home features volumes that are clad in smooth-trowel stucco and contrasting, horizontally hand-raked stucco.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm
Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

The balance between the two textures emphasizes the play of light and shadow on the exterior.

As the sun tracks through the day, so does the depth of light in the house.

Custom details enhance the contemporary exterior design and balance the material palette, including minimal aluminum-clad windows, extended flat rooflines, and aluminum shading fins framing the entry vestibule and picture windows.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm
Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

The horizontal wood impressions on the board-formed concrete site walls and soft native landscaping ground the structure within its unique setting.

While natural light and the views out to the adjacent park were prioritized, privacy was still a pressing concern for the owners.

Each room is naturally lit, and the occupant can enjoy multiple sightlines to the exterior.

In this way, the windows and natural light were used as a design element to guide the natural flow through the home.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm
Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

The structural system features flush structural headers and allows floor-to-ceiling glazing and seamless threshold transitions from indoor to outdoor spaces.

The home's layout was designed to respond to the couple's desire for a flexible living space, ample room for family gatherings, and accessible age-in-place amenities suited to their retired lifestyle.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm
Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm

The core of the home is centered around the main level, featuring a spacious primary suite, open-concept living room, and kitchen that flows out to a breezy covered veranda, complete with a fireplace and framed views of the neighboring park.

With indoor and outdoor areas conveniently on the same level, the upper floor guest suites and lounge serve as versatile spaces for family guests when needed, and the basement ADU provides an opportunity for a future tenant.

Keogh Residence
© Nils Timm


Keogh Residence
Ground Floor Plan
Keogh Residence
Basement Floor Plan
Keogh Residence
1st Floor Plan