Pistachio-Colored Marvel Boasts Curving Walls, Sharp Angles, and Challenging Design
A striking residence in Santa Monica is turning heads with its unconventional form and groundbreaking use of materials, the result of an experimental project by renowned architect Eric Owen Moss, as reported by Realtor.com.
Completed in 2022, the three-bedroom, three-bath home—dubbed the A+M House—sits at the mouth of Rustic Canyon, just a block from the beach. Though modest in footprint at 2,400 square feet, the structure’s dynamic design makes a monumental architectural statement.
Designed for Moss and his two teenage children, the multistory home challenges traditional residential forms with a silhouette that changes based on the angle of view: rectangular from one perspective, triangular from another, and in some cases, reminiscent of a ship or even a guitar.
Moss, widely credited with transforming Culver City into a hub of architectural innovation, is known for bold, form-driven designs such as the Waffle and the Glass Forest. With the A+M House, he brings his boundary-pushing approach to a smaller-scale, residential context.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the home is its exterior coating, a pistachio-hued, waterproof material called polyurea—commonly used on bridges and containment tanks. The material, which sprays on gray before changing color as it cures, marks its first known application on an exterior wood-frame residence.
Inside and out, the house reflects Moss’ experimental ethos. Its footprint remains compact, but the 1,950-square-foot structure rises and expands as it ascends, maximizing interior volume on the tight lot. Soft curves on the lower levels transition into sharp angles at the top, creating a visual narrative of movement and contrast.
To achieve this level of complexity, Moss employed a computer-modeled 3D Rhino design, translating it into a custom CNC-milled wooden wall system. The technique allowed for the seamless construction of the home’s fluid geometry.
According to Eric Owen Moss Architects, the home’s form is “kinetic from ground to sky,” embodying constant visual transformation. The structure has been featured in several architectural journals and praised for its innovation in residential form, material use, and construction methods. The home was opened for rentals for the first time in June, at a price tag of $24,500 per month, and is currently off the market.
