2064 Escarpa, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Property Description

Notable Architect, Oakley Norton, had owned the lot at 2064 Escarpa Dr. for more than a decade. On June 11, 1981, he pulled permits to build his final house on Escarpa Dr. A separate apartment located at the Escarpa Dr. frontage was the first part to be built. A second address was created using the private driveway access off Campus Rd. This home was a departure for Norton. All his past homes were constructed of wood, but this new home used block walls and cast-in-place concrete floors for most of the structure. This was the first of his designs that was based on a hexagonal grid, which created some dramatic shapes and exciting spaces. Oakley's passion for working with wood was not forgotten. Much of the exterior was clad in rough sawn redwood. He also designed a large deck under the canopy of a native Oak tree. The hexagonal grid was evident on the floor of the living room, master bedroom and front porch because of the custom hexagon ceramic tiles that were produced just for this home. The central stairwell featured bridge-like stairs floating over a lush interior garden. The two-story tall window columns created a dramatic focal point from both inside and out. The entryway was crowned with a custom light fixture featuring stained glass and wood slats. To break up the hexagonal grid pattern of the house, a curving s-shaped masonry wall acted as a screen for the kitchen, and gently directed the visitor to the public rooms. The kitchen featured many built-in details, including a rounded breakfast table, a pantry and an office nook. All cabinet doors were disguised to blend into the wall paneling. The lack of visible traditional cabinetry was deceiving. Hidden behind one 6-foot-long wall was over 100 feet of shelf space achieved using 3 custom turntables. The lower floor consisted of a bathroom and 3 small hexagonal bedrooms. The larger rooms were elongated hexagons with a North wall set into the hill and the South and West walls open to the view. The living room was on the 3rd floor. This long room had a tremendous view. From the ceramic tiled deck, one could look down at Occidental College and see the tops of the skyscrapers in downtown LA. On the fourth floor was the master suite, consisting of a large bedroom with bay window seats and a library area.