Sublime modernist house by Rachel Allen in the Echo Park hills asks $1.9M

Located on a lush half-acre lot, the striking property’s got major urban farm potential

By Pauline O'Connor May 15, 2017, 9:16am PDT

If you’ve ever traversed Elysian Heights’ Lemoyne Street and wondered what lay beyond a certain eye-catching fence embedded with bright technicolor panels, here’s your chance to find out, as the property has just hit the market. Suffice to say, it’s a real humdinger.

Completed in 2008, the three-bedroom, two-bath house was designed by architect Rachel Allen, whose other projects include the ATX Kitchen and the upcoming Pershing Square redevelopment.

As a 2009 LA Times feature notes, Allen designed the split-level residence to nestle into the hillside, maximizing its connection to the outdoors.

Located on the upper level, past a bridge and outdoor deck, the main entry leads into a living room suspended in the trees; stairs then move one down through the house clockwise and into the hill.

The 1,769-square-foot house features sustainably harvested walnut and concrete floors, Heath Ceramic tile, custom built-ins, and windows galore. But its most unusual design flourish would have to be the plywood sun shades that cover the strip of windows running along the home’s center ceiling, which were laser-cut to create the appearance of oak trees overhead.

While those oak trees are a clever illusion, the .54-acre property has plenty of real trees, including citrus, pomegranate, yucca, pine, and eucalyptus. The lush grounds also contain many native plants and wildflowers, organic vegetable beds, and a chicken coop.