Richard Seltzer Designs

Sheller-Borunda Residence

Mar Vista, CA

Critical Response:

The American Institute of Architects had this to say about the project when it was featured on their Westside Home Tour:

“This home is a must-see in order to experience the light and openness!... Using space, light, materials, and objects as a focus on his design, Richard Seltzer, Assoc. AIA transforms the Sheller-Borunda Residence into a retreat nestled between private gardens, seemingly far from its Mar Vista neighborhood.”

Architectural Critic Penny Herscovitch acclaimed the project by saying:

"A fluid connection between light, landscape, and the built elements transforms the Sheller-Borunda Residence... Precisely crafted custom fixtures and joinery, to curated compositions of form and color, a sculptural approach defines the Sheller-Borunda Residence."

• Architecture and Interiors:

  Richard Seltzer Designs

• Construction:

  Richard Seltzer Construction

• Landscape:

  Orange Street Studio

• Photography:

  Dave Teel, Bill Melia, Richard Seltzer Designs

From the beginning, there was a desire to create light-filled spaces that blur the boundaries between inside and out, between one interior space and another; to create spaces that are all interconnected and, at the same time, defined and differentiated.

Due to the highly unusual shape of the lot, the walls of the house were peeled back to embrace two separate gardens. One serves as a private garden connected to the master bedroom and bathroom, while the other serves the public area of the house and the gym.

Hand-tinted plasters of varying textures and types change throughout the day and night. The rich assortment of natural woods energizes the spaces with their warm colors and patterns. Volumes of deeply hued color define spatial boundaries and soak up light from separated roof planes. The exterior glass doors retract and disappear inside thick plaster walls, creating a seamless connection from inside to out.

As the day progresses, passive systems like cross ventilation and daylighting come together with radiant heated wood and concrete floors to provide ultimate comfort with low energy use. The house is designed so that the cool Venice air enters through open window-walls and expels the warm air through a system of electronically operable skylights.