Cresta Hilltop Residence Featured in Wallpaper* magazine
Front Facade showing new carport structure with existing garage to the left converted to a family and games room.
Studio LODE | LINE is pleased to share that the Cresta Hilltop Residence has been featured in Wallpaper* magazine—an exciting moment of recognition for the collaborative work of Michael Hennessey Architecture (MHA) and Sally Gimbert of Studio LODE | LINE.
Originally constructed as a mid-century hillside home, the Cresta Hilltop Residence had, over time, lost clarity through a series of poorly integrated renovations—most notably the incorporation of the garage into the primary living structure. These alterations disrupted the home’s original proportions, blurred its spatial hierarchy, and weakened its relationship to the surrounding landscape. What was once a clear and deliberate architectural composition had become fragmented and difficult to read.
The renovation sought to reestablish a strong architectural framework—bringing the design back to a place of clarity, restraint, and intention. Rather than imposing a new language, the approach focused on uncovering and reinforcing the inherent logic of the original structure. Key moves centered on simplifying the building’s massing, reasserting horizontality, and aligning elements across plan and section to create a more cohesive whole.
Existing conditions were carefully evaluated and selectively reworked. Misaligned openings were corrected, extraneous elements were removed, and spatial relationships were recalibrated to establish a clearer hierarchy between primary and secondary spaces. The integration of the garage was reconsidered to reduce its visual and spatial impact, allowing the main living volumes to regain prominence.
New interventions were introduced with deliberate restraint, aligning with the original structure while refining proportion, datum, and detail. Structural systems were closely coordinated with the architectural intent, allowing primary elements to read cleanly and consistently. This integration supports a quieter expression—one that relies on precision rather than excess.
Interior spaces were reoriented to more directly engage the landscape. Openings were carefully positioned to frame both immediate and distant views, while also bringing in balanced natural light. Living areas extend outward through resolved thresholds, creating a continuous relationship between interior and exterior conditions. These moments—edges, openings, and transitions—were treated as critical components of the overall composition.
Material transitions between existing and new construction were handled with care, reinforcing continuity across the project. Details were refined to minimize visual interruption, allowing the building to read as a unified intervention rather than a collection of parts. Alignment—of structure, glazing, and interior elements—became a primary driver in achieving this sense of cohesion.
Working with Mike at MHA on this project was an honor; his leadership and design sensibility were central to its success. Hennessey’s work is grounded in a deep understanding of proportion, material, light and craft, paired with a highly detail-oriented approach that elevates each project beyond its individual components. Working within this environment reinforced a disciplined, experience-driven approach to design—where clarity is achieved through iteration, precision, and a consistent commitment to refinement.
The result is a residence that recaptures the clarity and intent of its mid-century origins while establishing a more disciplined and enduring architectural language. Through careful editing, precise intervention, and a focus on proportion and alignment, the home has been transformed into a quieter, more resolved expression of its original character.
Read the full feature here:
https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/residential/hilltop-residence-michael-hennessey-architecture-usa