Our work is seen as the inventive orchestration of space realized in stone, wood, glass, and steel, but there is another, ethereal, yet fundamental component to our designs – daylight. Understanding its direction, movement, and intensity in terms of each building site is the starting point.

Daylighting is the architectural design term for the use of natural light. A space well lit with natural light utilizes sunlight as its principal source of daytime illumination. There is utility, and then there is artistry. Our designs ensure plenty of light, while also controlling and directing it, to create pleasing patterns and visual rhythms, highlight certain elements, and provide visual effects as the hours pass.

At W^R we start with the people who will occupy the space… and we start with light.

Mandeville Canyon

Our Mandeville Canyon home exhibits the play of light, as ever changing throughout the day, via various sized portals, precise geometry, and colors that provide an emotional impact. Added to this is the careful positioning of glass doors, walls, windows, and skylights, which help to connect us visually with the outdoors, as well as frame vistas and views.

Speaking on the movement and arrangement of light, our principal architect Marc Whipple adds, “Our client was really into changing natural light at different times of the day. So, if you have a south facing room and you want north light in it, you can pull the roof up on the north side and provide a row of windows. That's what gave rise to all the different roof heights and also contributed to the decision of it being one story.”

This project was Marc’s first use of his now signature narrow, vertical, “ribbon” windows. He adds, “The row of ribbon windows is a way to bring in natural light without exposing a wall full of glass. You can use them on more private sides of the house, you can use them in the front where the house is facing the street. It’s a really successful way to set up rhythm and a design so that it's graphic.”

Mandeville Canyon Brentwood Los Angeles modern home light filled living room with skylights and ribbon windows — Mandeville Canyon.

Benedict Canyon

Entering our Benedict Canyon house, the modern interior is illuminated via floor to ceiling glass walls at either end.

Ribbon windows and window walls fill the foyer with natural light, while.a striking double height glass wall illuminates the art gallery. In the detached upper studio home gym, a bright yoga workout room opens onto a sun deck terrace.

Trousdale

Details in shadow and light are seen in the use of exposed roof rafter tails at the entry to our Trousdale house in Beverly Hills.

The large skylight over the central volume brings a shower of sunlight, illuminating the entire living space, down through the glass bridge walkway and into the below-grade rooms. Another skylight over the kitchen further brightens that space.

Skylights on either side of the primary bath’s glass shower bring a glow to the white marble, while providing useful lighting for the closets.

Trousdale Beverly Hills modern home luxury marble shower — Trousdale. Photo by Jason Speth.

Laurel Way

The glass panels flanking the front door of our Laurel Way house flood the foyer with light, which is brought downstairs in this design through a glass floor just to the left of the entry. Below it is a wine cellar.

All of our projects feature sliding window walls of glass, so that entire rooms are sunlit and open to the out of doors. Seen here, the open plan living room and dining area of our Laurel Way house is open to views and a backyard pool terrace.

Laurel Way luxury home modern indoor outdoor living room that opens onto a pool terrace — Laurel Way. Photo by William MacCollum.

One of the guest bedrooms also similarly opens onto a private terrace with expansive views, while elsewhere on the property, the indoor outdoor experience extends to a covered glass walled walkway. In the garage, typically a dark and gloomy space, glass on two sides fills the room with stunning jetliner views.

Hopen Place

At our Hopen Place house, the primary bedroom’s walls are floor to ceiling glass.

Marc was one of the first in LA to put windows inside of the swimming pool, so that a blue light filters into the adjoining below grade home theater.

Light on Water

Light can also be reflected off of water to dazzling effect.

At our 9342 Sierra Mar house, water is brought to the edge of the living space, creating a delightful sparkle and reflection in the adjoining indoor rooms.

9342 Sierra Mar Hollywood Hills warm modern home with glass walls and courtyard infinity pool — 9342 Sierra Mar.

At our Mandeville Canyon house, sunlight reflecting on the pool’s surface shimmers through the glass walls and various sized portal windows that dapple the exterior of the house. Indoor spaces fill with the playful dance of light and shadows. Here too, the design extends the pool right up to the wall of the house, for an entrancing feeling of living both indoors and out at once. At night, outdoor fire features and the lights from inside the home reflect in the dark waters of the swimming pool, creating a mesmerizing dazzle of primal elements.

At our Benedict Canyon house, illuminated pools of water dot the property, at the entrance to the main house, below the stairs to the guest studio, and inside of the living room itself. The glowing waters add a contemplative and meditative feel, as the lights in them shine upwards, creating fathomless depths.

The presence of natural light enhances the indoor outdoor feeling of a home, and can add a sense of awe and expansiveness to luxury living spaces. Experience the shape of light in our modern resort style designs.

The Shape of Light