Tag Archives: Organic Design

Rock Star Haven Egg House In Topanga Canyon Is For Sale

Topanga Canyon’s One of a Kind “Egg House”
Topanga Canyon is one of LA’s most unique neighborhoods. Nestled in the Santa Monica mountains, the tight-knit community is known for its spectacular nature and Bohemian vibes. During the 1960s and 70s, the neighborhood was a haven for rock stars, including Canada’s own Neil Young and Joni Mitchell along with Jim Morrison, several members of The Eagles, and even country legend Linda Ronstadt among its talented residents. R&B superstar Marvin Gaye described Topanga as “a place where I can create my masterpiece,” and numerous artists agreed. Local venue The Topanga Corral hosted some of the all-time greats and inspired The Doors’ hit “Roadhouse Blues.” Simultaneously accessible and remote, the region remains a sanctuary for artists of all kinds. 

The opportunity to own a piece of this special neighborhood presents itself with the listing of Topanga Canyon’s “Egg House” for $4.995 million usd/ $6.790 million cad. This sculptural masterpiece of brutalism and organic design proudly sits at 225 Powderhorn Ranch Road.


Designed and built by artist couple Chad Hagerman and Allison Ochmanek of Rascal Makers, the home is inspired by the concept of the embryo – the origin of life, potential, and transformation. Combining brutalist architecture with organic materials, the bespoke home offers a serene aesthetic with touches of Japanese minimalism. The home is a true statement piece, with handcrafted plaster walls,  stone floors, artisan fixtures, and thoughtful details throughout. With four beds and five baths, the stunning home offers 3,350 square feet of living space. 

For The Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Sustainable Urban Renewal Example In Copenhagen Neighbourhood

HenningLarsen design sketch
Henning Larsen Architects: design sketch

Henning Larsen Architects  lead a design team in establishing an overall sustainable solution for the renewal of buildings, courtyards, and streetscapes in a selected residential block of Skt. Kjelds Climate Resilient Neighborhood in Østerbro.  The competition for Copenhagen Climate Resilient Neighborhood was won with a proposal that serves as a future “showcase” of holistic and sustainable approaches to urban renewal while opening possibilities for realizing the objectives of a sustainable and climate-friendly Copenhagen. In addition to Henning Larsen Architects, the winning team also included Henrik Larsen consulting engineers, TagTomat and V!GØR.

“Copenhagen Climate Resilient Neighborhood , as a flagship project, demonstrates how a holistic and innovative approach to renovation and rainwater management can create a better living environment and courtyard atmosphere in a typical residential block. The designated block in Skt. Kjelds neighborhood therefore became a climate-front runner, implementing new solutions that can inspire other blocks—not only in Copenhagen but also in the many northern European cities where blocks of courtyard buildings are a dominant type of housing,” says Signe Kongebro, architect and partner at Henning Larsen Architects.Signe Kongebro

The project reflects a holistic approach with focus on energy retrofitting, climate adaption, architecture and daylight. From start to finish, the execution of the project will be implemented in close dialogue with Copenhagen Municipality and especially the residents and the building owners in the block.

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The project was based on four main strategic focus points: rainwater management; increasing recreational space by re-configuring parking and introducing green areas; strengthening of the neighborhood’s identity with community gathering points; and, optimization of existing buildings in terms of energy consumption, daylight and indoor climate.

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Workshops kick-started the sustainable urban renewal process wherein the team, in close and innovation-driven dialogue with residents and the municipality, began the transformation from traditional residential block to a climate-resilient neighborhood. Throughout the project, physical prototypes, exhibitions, mock-ups, and other visual tools contributed to give the residents a realistic insight into the transformation of their block and keep the process alive and relevant.  Connect with Henning Larsen Architects on Instagram  and on Facebook.

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Supplemental-

History: http://henninglarsen.com/about/history.aspx

Profile:  http://henninglarsen.com/about/profile.aspx

Awards: http://henninglarsen.com/about/awards.aspx