The Cano & La Canaria Houses, Diego Cano-Lasso 2024/2025

Located on a steep hillside in Mount Washington, the Cano House and La Canaria House were conceived as a pair of closely related yet distinct residential projects by architect Diego Cano‑Lasso. Developed on adjacent parcels, the two homes share a common response to Los Angeles’s challenging topography, tight access, sharp grades, and expansive views, while diverging in character and expression. Cano House is more restrained in tone, organized around structure, light, and open terraces, whereas La Canaria embraces a more expressive exterior identity, signaling its presence within the neighborhood while still engaging the hillside through layered outdoor spaces and framed sightlines.

Rather than a restoration in the traditional sense, both houses are the result of an extended and iterative design and build process shaped by engineering constraints, zoning requirements, and the realities of hillside construction in Los Angeles. The projects evolved over several years, with revisions made to address seismic demands, structural complexity, and constructibility on a narrow site. Throughout that process, the architecture remained focused on livability, balancing openness with privacy, and creating flexible interior spaces that flow outward to decks and gardens. The end result reflects refinement over time rather than a singular, fixed vision.

The surrounding Mount Washington neighborhood plays a critical role in how the houses function and feel. Known for its eclectic mix of hillside homes and quiet residential character, the area rewards careful siting and sensitivity to scale.