Whipple Russell Architects has designed a new house in Beverly Hills, California, that has sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Guests coming up the front steps of this hilltop home are met with a Carrera marble sculpture by Richard Erdman, while the car park features a turntable that identifies each car, rotates it to a preset angle, enabling the driver to exit with ease. The dark-grey rough stacked-slate exterior of the house is capped with crisply contrasting white stucco, and a pivot-style all-glass front door and surround welcomes guests to the home.

Inside, the central open volume topped by a skylight is Marc Whipple’s modern take on the traditional courtyard. He took the courtyard, and sunk it so that all the below-grade rooms open off of it, transforming what normally would be a dark basement into a lower floor with light and views. The large skylight pulls the dramatic focus upwards as well, so this vertical volume contains both dynamics seen while crossing the glass bridge.
The architects worked together with interior design firm McCormick and Wright, to create a luxurious and modern atmosphere. Surrounding this sunny atrium are the kitchen, living, and dining areas. In the living room, a back-to-back lounge arrangement ensures that the fireplace and the views can both be enjoyed.

At the back of the house two walls of glass glide open to provide easy access to th...