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Bell Canyon Residence: A Ranch in California Where the Garden Is King

02.13.20 | By
Bell Canyon Residence: A Ranch in California Where the Garden Is King

Hsu McCullough’s newest project is a lush house at the edge of the canyon in Ventura County, affectionally named Bell Canyon Residence. Even though the property spreads over one acre of space, the abundant nature – mature trees, sprawling lawns, and flowering gardens – give it a sense of natural cohesion.

In this setting exists a modern 4,000-square-foot ranch house, a recording studio, and a swimming pool and spa. The home is configured in an L-shape with a living room, a long kitchen, and a dining room that form what the architects call the “Great Room,” with sliding glass doors to frame the outside gardens and mountain outcrops.

The outdoor garden is a romantic setting for adults to lounge in and also serves as a play area for children. The first thing you’ll notice as you approach the house is the long horizontal frontage and a wood-clad entrance door. From a foyer with low ceilings, you proceed to Great Room with 18-foot-long, triangular-shaped clerestory windows, and then take a 60-foot-long central passage to reach the private bedroom suites.

The Master Suite opens to a yard via a set of sliding glass windows and has individual walk-in closets, a large open shower with a shower garden, and electromagnetic privacy glass so the glass can alternate between clear and opaque with the flick of a switch. There’s also a kid’s bedroom and a guest suite that looks onto the outdoor courtyard.

Photos by Dan Arnold.

Keshia grew up in Singapore and moved to the U.S. to attend Dartmouth College. When she was living abroad after graduation, a chance enrollment at the Architectural Association Visiting School led to her becoming enamored with door schedules and architectural écriture. She's particularly interested in design for aging, rural architecture, and Asian design heritage.