Open Space | The Polito House, Raphael Soriano FAIA 1940

The Polito House, a rare 1940 gem by Raphael Soriano, sits high above the Sunset Strip with its steel frame, wide glass panels, and clean modern lines still shining through. When Leo Seigal and Maxwell Anderson discovered it early in the pandemic, they immediately sensed how special it was, not just because so few Soriano homes had survived, but because this one still retained its bold hillside presence. Even though the interiors had been stripped over the years, the core architecture still showed Soriano’s trademarks: simplicity, openness, and a strong connection to the landscape.

Restoring the home became a careful blend of honoring the past while making it practical for today. Working with designer Jake Arnold and architectural designer Tyler Thomas, the couple updated the compact two-story layout, adding a proper primary suite, improving the flow, and creating dedicated spots for work and reading. Every change stayed in step with Soriano’s light, steel-and-glass approach, keeping the spirit of the original design while making it more livable.

Outside, the transformation was just as striking. A once-barren hillside is now a layered garden with winding paths and terraces that blur the line between indoors and out. What used to be a stark slope has become a lush extension of the living room. For the owners, the project creates a meaningful connection between the old and the new, demonstrating how classic modernism can be restored, lived in, and reimagined for the present day.