Open Space | The Kingsland Residence, Clive Wilkinson FAIA, 2018
The Kingsland Street House in West Los Angeles is a three-level hillside residence designed by architect Clive Wilkinson, known for his human-centered approach to workplace and residential design. Nestled in the Mar Vista area, the home makes intelligent use of a compact urban lot, rising vertically to frame expansive city views while maintaining privacy from the street. Its structure follows the site’s natural slope, allowing each level to serve a distinct purpose: children’s rooms and a studio below, private suites in the middle, and an open living space above that opens to a long balcony overlooking the Los Angeles Basin.
The home reflects Clive and his wife Elisabeth’s focus on clarity, connection, and craft. A central breezeway runs along the west side, inspired by a public staircase adjacent to the property, creating a sense of openness and dialogue between the home and its surroundings. The design blends natural materials, warm wood framing, broad panes of glass, and a cantilevered balcony that seems to float above the terrain—to produce a light, transparent quality that contrasts beautifully with the solidity of the hillside. The transition between interior and exterior spaces feels seamless, offering both retreat and engagement with the urban landscape.
For Clive and Elisabeth, the home is a deeply personal reflection of how intentional design can foster both family life and a genuine connection to the surrounding city. It was crafted not merely for visual beauty, but to support the everyday rhythms of living, from moments of work and creativity to quiet reflection and family gatherings. The Kingsland Street House distills the essence of Clive’s larger design philosophy: to create environments that are both functional and emotionally resonant, where every detail enhances the experience of place. The result is a calm, contemporary dwelling that embodies balance between structure and landscape, privacy and openness, and design precision and lived warmth.
