Author(s): Thom Mayne

Architecture

Located in the Pacific Palisades, the Kappe Residence was designed and built in 1965–67 by American architect and educator Ray Kappe. As Takashi Yanai writes in his essay, Kappe is “a quiet giant within the local architectural community”. The house he designed for himself and his family follows a long tradition of forward-thinking residences that celebrate the temperate climate and inventive spirit of Los Angeles. Yoshio Futagawa’s photographs reflect its perfect example of how a house can be so grounded in place, yet poetic in its spaces and materiality. The challenging site, with its underground springs and steep slope, speaks to Kappe’s genius. With an interview by Thom Mayne.