EcoSteel’s Multifamily Prefab was featured in “A Polygonal Refuge Takes Root in the Hills of Los Angeles” by By Stephen Zacks – May 11, 2020.

Up above the eastern edge of Silver Lake Reservoir, a hexagonal two-family dwelling balances atop a series of staircase landings, stretching out over the hillside on cantilevered balconies. Designed by Los Angeles architect Tom Marble in a creative fermentation with owner and friend Tim Tattu,  the Tattuplex poses at a 12-degree angle to the lot, with two polygonal volumes forming a stack, punctuated by a triangular wraparound terrace.

For Tim, who is now immersed in the COVID-19 public health crisis as a hospice nurse and confronted with shortages in protective equipment, it’s particularly important to have a quiet place to retreat. “I always wanted home to be a refuge and a place for healing and renewal, and to have a place that energetically supports everyone who enters the spaces.”

“By the time he returned to Los Angeles in 2009, the recession was in full swing, and he managed to purchase a prominent hillside lot vacant since the 1980s for $190,000—almost half its previous value. Early on, he had committed to buying structural materials from EcoSteel, which manufactures prefabricated panels that allow for quick and efficient construction. Except the only previous applications had been orthogonal warehouses.”

“I did not want a box,” Tim says. “I wanted to look at the view from many angles. I’m not a huge fan of houses where you go straight out and look at the view straight on—that makes the view too overwhelming. I like a big view, don’t get me wrong, but I like to have different angles on the view, because it kind of shifts your perception.”

Over dinners, Tim, Marble, and the artist Pae White—Marble’s wife and a friend of Tim’s from art school—discussed the concept and iterated the design. With Silver Lake’s rich history of midcentury modern houses, they wanted the home to equally reflect the influences of raw steel in the work of Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, and John Lautner, whose Silvertop residence is visible on the opposite hill above reservoir. “In that neighborhood there are a few architects who worked earlier in the 20th century,” Marble says. “I felt like it was an opportunity to do a ‘Silver Lake’ type of building in Silver Lake.”

An office built into the side of the bedroom uses the same Douglas fir wood and forms the center of the second hexagon. Another glass sliding door from the bedroom passes through to the living room balcony. A dedicated master bathroom forms another spur of the wheel, with a soaking tub, a custom vanity topped in travertine, and a shower sealed with antique burnt red tiles. Another sliding door passes to a gravel-covered garden. A walk-in closet with a window and space for meditation, and the entryway complete the hexagon.

Los Angeles is serious about addressing the homeless crisis in the city and is now taking the lead on solving the problem thanks to the newly signed Assembly Bill 1197.
The bill was made effective on September 26, 2019, allowing builders, city officials and organizations to bypass previous environmental guidelines known to heavily prevent and prolong many projects.
The bill was written specifically for LA, a city notoriously tough to build in. The objective? Construct temporary, affordable and supportive permanent housing options for the thousands of unhoused Angelenos that need it most. Giving the community an opportunity to take immediate action towards decreasing the homelessness population with new shelters and interim housing.

See related EcoSteel project here

In 2016, voters unanimously approved Measure HHH, a $1.2 billion bond that will be funding the build of about 10,000 units across the city.

All approved projects now until January 1, 2025, are no longer subjected to the lengthy environmental review process, known as CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) that required builders to examine, draft and publish a report on how they plan to mitigate their impact of things like noise, traffic, and city views. AB1197 will exempt the CEQA requirements carried out by the City of Los Angeles and other public agencies, as defined or related to supportive housing and emergency shelters.  

 The bill will also make it more difficult for residents to prevent homeless shelter developments in their neighborhoods. 

Due to the extent of the LA homeless crisis, and the homeless issue throughout California, the City of Los Angeles is looking for unique ways to complete the structures as quickly and as efficiently as possible. For this reason, organizations are turning to EcoSteel’s pre-engineered architectural steel buildings to get the job done; an option that allows quality buildings to be built in the quickest time possible. 

See related EcoSteel project here

“We use the latest engineering, and construction technology in every design to deliver a steel structure ready for fast assembly- a complementary option for the Los Angeles homeless initiative.” -Joss Hudson, EcoSteel

More and more developers are turning to EcoSteel’s design flexibility, pre-engineered Building Systems, and shortened completion times to turn their blueprints into buildings. 

Nothing is too complex. Learn how our products can empower your project by calling our office at 800.587.6604 or contacting us here!

New England Real Estate Journal names EcoSteel’s Modern Pet Hotel September’s “Project of the Month”.

From the Article
Best Friends Pet Hotel is a state-of-the-art pet care facility. All Best Friends centers offer individual suites that are clean and climate controlled, with premium food, bedding and an extensive menu of individualized activities and services available. Clients can choose a grooming session, doggie day camp, training sessions or overnight stays. Best Friends is located in 18 states throughout the country, with five locations in Massachusetts.

EcoSteel provides pre-engineered steel building systems that are energy efficient and non-combustible. The 3D modeling and prefabricated steel roof and wall panels provide superior energy efficiency over traditional lumber frame materials

Seaver Construction, Inc. is a Woburn based construction firm specializing in the commercial, healthcare, academic, hospitality and residential sectors.

Project team: Seaver Construction, Inc. – general contractor; Peterson Engineering Group LLC – MEP engineer; EcoSteel – architectural building systems; and Kustom Construction Inc. – concrete formwork & flatwork.

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