Kappe Residence
Los Angeles, 1970
Other People’s Houses 001
Photography: João Canziani
04.06.22
Located in the hills of the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California lies the Kappe Residence. Designed by Architect Ray Kappe as his own residence in the early 60’s, the 4000 sqft glass and wood house was built between 1965 and 1967. Featuring natural building materials, strong geometric form, and super-saturated colours, the house is built atop Kappe’s studio on the ground floor. The late architect is celebrated for his influence on California modernism, a style that was emerging in the 1950s as he was starting his architectural career. Before his death, Kappe also started developing his modular prefab construction as a more environmentally friendly design alternative.
“Ray's own home may be the greatest house in all of Southern California”
– Stephen Kanner, A+D Museum
Los Angeles
‘The house still seems to touch most people – architects, students and potential clients. It has remained the one repetitive constant in my work. Our house became a prototype for many of my houses with difficult sites. At the time it was built, I think the house served as an inspiration for aspiring architects, and I hope that those who experience it today have a similar response.’ – Ray Kappe, 2004
As a true icon of Modern residential architecture in LA, Kappe also established the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) with his wife Shelly Kappe, Thom Mayne, Jim Stafford, Glen Small, Ahde Lahti and Bill Simonian in 1972. Following Kappe's death, SCI-Arc's current director Diaz Alonso described Kappe’s portfolio as a ‘body of architecture of the highest level that will live on forever.’ Adding ‘His legacy as an architect, city planner, and educator is absolutely unparalleled.’