Santa Monica architect
Aleks Istanbullu crafted this Coldwater Canyon guesthouse for Dorrie and Paul Markovits, who wanted a place apart from the main house to read and listen to music. Istanbullu drew up plans for a retreat that took advantage of the site’s dramatic canyon views, but the initial concept of a pure, cube-like space soon gave way to practical considerations. A back structure was added to the house — a bedroom, bath and kitchen — so it could function as a guesthouse. Here, four granite islands in a pond lead to the entrance, where a large pivot door brings the outdoors in.
