Sculptural Office Addition In Contemporary Style

A couple of attorneys living in Malibu wanted a satellite office where they could not only work privately, but also meet with clients and bring in staff. The extension was constructed at the rear of the L-shaped residence built by American designer Geoffrey von Oeyen.

The new building features wooden exterior walls and a highly abstracted sawtooth roof with angular cuts that vary in shape and size. Rather than create a simple rectilinear volume, the design team took a sculptural approach: the addition was envisioned as a series of blocks obliquely sliced and assembled in a descending sequence in section. To separate the office from the home, the team constructed a skylit hallway on the west side, and created an entry vestibule on the south. The other sides of the addition face the backyard.

Inside, the extension contains a single room that is subtly divided into different programmatic areas. Occupying one side is a fireplace and sitting area, where the lawyers can meet with clients in a cozy setting. The sitting nook is surrounded by shelving and cabinetry. The other side of the room features shelves, a small kitchen area and a conference table that seats up to eight. Up above is a large window, which provides views into the office from an elevator landing and a media room on the second floor. The elevator, which was not required by the city, enables visitors with limited mobility to access the newly renovated media room. The office is fitted with blonde wood, white walls and slate tile flooring.

Numerous windows and wood-framed glass doors flood the double-height space with natural light. The interplay of reflected daylight on the folding ceiling surfaces throughout the day provides a gently modulating, diffused top lighting for contemplative work. The team also created an outdoor zone for the office that overlooks the hilly landscape, it includes built-in benches, a fireplace, a fountain and an outdoor kitchen.