Once a upon a time in Hollywood, Brad Pitt created a modernist house... https://t.co/u7l8KQ8Ufs pic.twitter.com/d3wbbs9A0H— ELLE Decoration UK (@ELLEDecoUK) August 5, 2019
Brad Pitt’s Los Angeles home is a modernist masterpiece
The A-lister’s Hollywood Hills retreat is by local architecture firm GRAFT
WHY WE LOVE IT...
Readers
of ELLE Decoration’s July 2006 issue, might have been surprised to see
Brad Pitt’s name emblazoned on the magazine’s spine, but also impressed
when they saw the pictures of this peaceful, light-filled Los Angeles
abode. It’s enduring design was heavily influenced by the ideas of its
actor owner, as well as the work of iconic architects, from Mies van der
Rohe to Frank Lloyd Wright and Brad’s hero, Frank Gehry.
Beautifully simple and exuding a Zen-like calm,
this home is a compelling space even before you find out it’s home to
Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The fact that he also had a hand in creating
it merely adds to the appeal.
For a few
years now, there’s been talk about Brad’s passion for architecture; his
plan to take a break from film to study under world-class architect
Frank Gehry, and their possible collaboration on a controversial
seafront redevelopment in Brighton. When interviewed, he fizzes with
enthusiasm for the subject, as he explained to US chat show host Oprah
Winfrey: ‘I love that architecture is this huge art piece you can be
inside. I believe it lifts your soul and affects your mindset.’
Back in Los Angeles, he worked with GRAFT, a trio
of dynamic young architects, on his own home in the Hollywood Hills, a
dramatic yet tranquil house, very much in the tradition of Californian
desert modernism.
‘The aim was to create a
clean, well-functioning and flexible space with a sense of generosity
and a harmonious atmosphere,’says Lars Krückerberg, practice principal
at GRAFT. The team used mica stone for all of the walls, floors and
ceilings, because it has a unique way of brightening and mellowing as
the light changes throughout the day. To introduce contrast, this was
mixed with areas of local pine flooring, inside and out, selected for
its open and flamboyant grain.
Set into many of the walls are hidden-away shelves and cupboards,
designed to keep each room clean and fuss-free: ‘We call them service
walls or Swiss army knives,’ says Lars. As for the furniture, that was
purely Brad’s domain. ‘We didn’t need to lift a finger,’ Lars explains.
‘Brad is known for his extensive collection of modern designs. He could
furnish a museum.’
As Brad explained in LA-based style magazine Flaunt, the creation of this home has helped him to discover the benefits of simplicity: ‘I learned that you have to let go of a lot of great ideas for the sake of harmony.’ graftlab.com
