People
The primary public day-to-day living spaces and bedrooms face away from the road, with only the formal spaces opposite the front water garden. This two-level Beverly Hills house is located on a 24,451-square-foot site in the Trousdale Estates area with a relatively small buildable area. Restrictive codes combined with the client’s aspirations for more program and facilities focused the use of a basement for the program and thus to look at different ways of transmitting light to the lower level. An entry courtyard is screened from the street and the garage is located on the lower level and reached by a ramp. The garage’s large window faces a sunken courtyard that contains a large rectangular water feature.
PEOPLE
This dual commitment deepened my appreciation for the interplay of design and construction, guiding me towards the path of architecture. This journey ultimately culminated in my graduation with honors from Newschool of Architecture and Design in San Diego. Today, I feel fortunate to be part of the visionary team at McClean Design, collaboratively driving the advancement of contemporary modern architecture. Beyond architecture, I enthusiastically pursue various passions – from the exhilaration of racing and the serenity of boating, to the challenge (and sometimes frustration) of golf. However, the moments I treasure most are those spent with my growing family and loved ones.
MODERN LUXURY
Through thoughtful design, I aspire to create spaces that inspire and resonate with people on a profound level, making a positive impact in their lives. Since we established McClean Design in 2000, I have been responsible for managing the office and keeping everybody on their toes! My passion though, is interior design and I enjoy working with private clients in addition to collaborating on projects within our office.
LEVELS
Growing up in the vibrant Vietnamese community of Little Saigon, I was immersed in a rich cultural tapestry that shaped my perspective on design. Prior to joining the team at McClean Design, I worked in various offices across Orange County and Los Angeles, assisting on the design of residential and mixed-use projects. As a graduate from Cal Poly Pomona, I earned my Bachelor of Architecture, laying the groundwork for my design skill. My passion for design is deeply rooted in the transformative power of architecture, particularly its placemaking ability to create meaningful places that resonate with people on a personal level. By continuously pushing the boundaries of design, I strive to craft spaces that not only inspire but also evoke a sense of wonder and belonging.
Inside Beyoncé and Jay-Z's $120 Million Bel Air Home with the Architect of L.A.'s Giga-Mansion Boom - W Magazine
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Open in concept and focused around the pool and garden area, the upper level blends seamlessly with its surroundings. On a complex multilevel lot overlooking the city of Beverly Hills, this project was designed to take advantage of the beautiful views of the city below, as well as the entire Los Angeles basin. The house is inspired by the rich history of modernism in California, in both its plan and material choices.
Architecture and Planning
Paul McClean is a member of the American Institute of Architects and is a licensed architect in several States including California. I feel that we have been very fortunate these last few years and have managed to complete many new homes. I have always enjoyed working with different people and am constantly amazed by the different and varied backgrounds of our clients.
Beverly Hills, CA
For as long as I can remember I have been infatuated with the art of creation and building at all scales. My grandma loved to tell the story of how I would beg and beg for this toy or that and when it was not handed to me, I would just make my own. I was lucky to have been raised in a family of artists, designers and builders who cultivated my passion and gave me the tools necessary for a career in architecture. I apprenticed as a carpenter, ironworker, and glazier and during this time gained a great appreciation of how design materializes and truly fell in love with architecture. I went on to work for many of the best residential architects in Southern California, helping to design and manage hundreds of single and multi-family residential projects across the U.S. and abroad. In 2019, I was given the opportunity to join McClean Design and jumped at the chance.
Projects 5
Completed in April 2013, this house, currently owned by an art collector, is located on San Vicente Boulevard in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. The lot measures 31,466 square feet and does not offer a view, meaning that the residence is more focused on its garden. Because of traffic on the street, visual and noise buffers in the form of a landscape barrier, high gates, and a curved glass wall became a design priority. The wall leads to a waterfall used for further noise abatement and an infinity edge decorative pool. A unique feature is the master bedroom terrace glass floor, which is located over the outdoor living space, bringing extra natural light into the central kitchen area. The rear garden of the house, where the pool is located, has a pool house with a roof whose curvature echoes that of the roof of the main house.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
The landscape is fully integrated into the project with specimen trees and bushes connecting the various outdoor spaces. The approach from the street up a steep driveway leads to a generous drive court where a relaxed limestone stair continues the climb to the entry of the home. The main living and dining space opens completely on both sides, allowing for cross ventilation, and the sense of being outdoors, while still sheltered from the elements.
The richly finished media room opens directly to the center of the entertainment area. The remaining spaces consist of three additional bedrooms, a gym area, a service kitchen, and staff rooms. The bedrooms on the lower level all look out over a central landscaped courtyard, with a sliding glass wall that combines the outdoor garden with the family room in pleasant weather. The lower level includes a gym and wellness area in addition to the wine room with its glass ceiling to the bar area above. Since space is at such a premium parking for the property is accessed by a ramp and located below the rear garden and pool area. The sinuous walnut and limestone-clad staircase create an interesting focal point while revealing views of the backlit wine cellar on the descent to the lower level.
A transparent entry bridge crosses over this water courtyard, leading to the living area in the direction of the rear outdoor infinity pool with views of Century City. The kitchen and family room open to the rear garden, while the dining room is contained in a glass area that bridges over the water courtyard. The triangular upper level pool has a shallow shelf that wraps around the master bedroom, creating a feeling that this part of the house is floating on water. A spa (gym and sauna) and fireplace are on the lower level, as are a bar and family lounge.
The feeling below provides a significant contrast to the main floor, with a series of bedrooms and entertainment spaces, wrapping around the landscaped courtyard. I grew up in the South Bay/Long Beach region of Southern California and attended Long Beach City College before transferring to university where my curiosity for the profession grew. My interest in architecture stems from wanting to know how a project evolves from concept to reality through the design process. While here at McClean Design,I am seeing the importance ofdesign and itseffecton an individual through materiality, light, and connection to the natural environment.
Every day since I have been challenged to push the envelope of design and construction and I am loving every minute. My love for drawingat an early age was a good indication that design and architecture would be inmy future. With over 22 years of architecturalexperience, I find myself at McClean Design working on one-of-a-kind luxurycustom homes. The uniqueness of each project brings out a high level ofcreativity as each property has its own challenges.
A young entrepreneur commissioned McClean Design to build a house on a triple lot as a family retreat and a place to entertain their many friends. He and his interior designer, Lynda Murray, were eager to make a bold statement, and that gave the architects an opportunity to spread their wings. The square plot allowed them to devote the street frontage to a garden and a large garage. Translucent glass sheilds the garden from the street while revealing silhouettes of moving figures on the other side. Boldly figured white marble clads much of the exterior and is used extensively throughout the three-story house.
We make extensive use of glazing systems to maximize views and provide a warm light filled contemporary space. We strive for simplicity and an openness to the surrounding landscape that erodes the division between indoor and outdoor spaces; homes with an emphasis on texture and natural materials. We keep an open mind on questions of style preferring to strike a balance between the best solution for the site, our clients’ preferences, and what is potentially approvable for each particular site. The house is separated from the street by a series of stone walls with only a small break on axis with the entry bridge. Entry is though a metal gate and along a tall water wall over looking the central courtyard and leading to the glass bridge. Upon entering the living area looks directly out over the pool with the kitchen and dining family space to the left and the main bedroom wing to the right.
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