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Duplex redux

Light comes through windows in Judy Preminger’s duplex in the Sawtelle district in West Los Angeles. With eco-friendly construction and thoughtful design, today’s dual units hark back to L.A.’s architectural past and may point toward its high-density future.

Light comes through windows in Judy Preminger’s duplex in the Sawtelle district in West Los Angeles. With eco-friendly construction and thoughtful design, today’s dual units hark back to L.A.’s architectural past and may point toward its high-density future.  (Christine Cotter / LAT)

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The not-so-humble duplex is back after a prolonged absence from L.A.’s architectural scene.

Judy Preminger, shown outside the dual units, chose a recycled redwood facade to give the duplex an organic feel. Preminger also had the units under-built at 2,700 square feet to accommodate a garden and included environmentally conscious features. (Christine Cotter./.LAT)

Judy Preminger, shown outside the dual units, chose a recycled redwood facade to give the duplex an organic feel. Preminger also had the units under-built at 2,700 square feet to accommodate a garden and included environmentally conscious features. (Christine Cotter./.LAT)  (Christine Cotter / LAT)

A narrow window wraps around a corner in Judy Preminger’s duplex. (Christine Cotter./.LAT)

A narrow window wraps around a corner in Judy Preminger’s duplex. (Christine Cotter./.LAT)  (Christine Cotter / LAT)

Judy Preminger’s daughter Liza walks across the main living area on the first floor which achieves a spare aesthetic with white walls and dark Inca basalt flooring. (Christine Cotter./.LAT)

Judy Preminger’s daughter Liza walks across the main living area on the first floor which achieves a spare aesthetic with white walls and dark Inca basalt flooring.  (Christine Cotter / LAT)

Stainless steel appliances fit in with the monochromatic color scheme in Judy Preminger’s kitchen area. (Allen J. Schaben./.LAT)

Stainless steel appliances fit in with the monochromatic color scheme in Judy Preminger’s kitchen area. (Allen J. Schaben./.LAT)  (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)

Judy Preminger and daughter Liza. A fan of Asian design, Preminger created as spare, clean aesthetic in her unit. (Allen J. Schaben./.LAT)

Judy Preminger and daughter Liza. A fan of Asian design, Preminger created as spare, clean aesthetic in her unit. (Allen J. Schaben./.LAT)  (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)

A niche accented with a vase and flowers is an entry focal point visible from the first and second floors of Judy Preminger’s duplex. (Allen J. Schaben./.LAT)

A niche accented with a vase and flowers is an entry focal point visible from the first and second floors of Judy Preminger’s duplex. (Allen J. Schaben./.LAT)  (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)

A Japanese sliding door and glass tile decorate Judy Preminger’s bathroom. (Christine Cotter./.LAT)

A Japanese sliding door and glass tile decorate Judy Preminger’s bathroom. (Christine Cotter./.LAT)  (Christine Cotter / LAT)

The boxy cube exterior of Hillel Nachum’s West Hollywood duplex sets it apart. Because of its departure from the area’s Spanish architectural vernacular, neighbors had to warm up to the Modern design. (Annie Wells./.LAT)

The boxy cube exterior of Hillel Nachum’s West Hollywood duplex sets it apart. Because of its departure from the area’s Spanish architectural vernacular, neighbors had to warm up to the Modern design.  (Annie Wells / LAT)

The sleek, loft-like interior in Hillel Nachum’s duplex complements the exterior. (Annie Wells./.LAT)

The sleek, loft-like interior in Hillel Nachum’s duplex complements the exterior.  (Annie Wells / LAT)

Stairs lead to a second-story great room and master bedroom suite in Judy Preminger’s duplex. (Allen J. Schaben./.LAT)

Stairs lead to a second-story great room and master bedroom suite in Judy Preminger’s duplex.  (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)

Interior designer Rosana Campos created the look in Hillel Nachum’s duplex. (Annie Wells./.LAT)

Interior designer Rosana Campos created the look in Hillel Nachum’s duplex.  (Annie Wells / LAT)

Designer Mathew Mitchell stands on the balcony of a three-story duplex near downtown L.A. that he built with designer Tim Campbell. The back-to-back units have about 500 square feet of living space on each floor and city skyline views. (Christine Cotter./.LAT)

Designer Mathew Mitchell stands on the balcony of a three-story duplex near downtown L.A. that he built with designer Tim Campbell. The back-to-back units have about 500 square feet of living space on each floor and city skyline views.  (Christine Cotter / LAT)

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