Project Name: Ashland Residence

Location: Santa Monica, United States

Design Team: Dimster Architecture

Project Area: 669㎡ (7,202 ft²)

Completion Year: 2023

Photography: Courtesy of Dimster Architecture

Feature：

Project - In the heart of Santa Monica, where coastal breezes meet urban sophistication, Dimster Architecture has unveiled their latest residential masterpiece - the Ashland Residence. This 7,202-square-foot dwelling stands as a testament to thoughtful California modernism, where architecture becomes a dialogue between privacy and openness, form and function.

The residence's most striking feature is its innovative L-shaped configuration, a strategic response to its privileged corner lot position. This architectural gesture creates a deliberate duality: a protective shield from the street-facing sides while opening generously to private garden spaces and the coveted afternoon light. The building's mass, split between two distinct structures, is softened by sculptural curved carvings that add a layer of visual poetry to its contemporary form.

At the heart of the design lies a sunken living room, where 10-foot sliding doors dissolve the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. This thoughtful element serves a dual purpose - facilitating natural ventilation while creating seamless connections to the meticulously landscaped gardens. The architects have employed a sophisticated rainscreen system for the wood siding, demonstrating their commitment to both aesthetics and functionality. This technical solution creates an air gap that serves as a thermal buffer, acoustic barrier, and ensures the longevity of the natural materials.

The home's circulation has been carefully choreographed through two distinct entry experiences. The formal approach guides visitors through a garden of native plants, while a more casual side entrance, nestled between the two main volumes under a trellised canopy, offers a transitional journey to either the kitchen or the pool area. Interior spaces are designed with remarkable flexibility, accommodating everything from grand entertaining to intimate family gatherings, with the potential for future multi-generational living thoughtfully integrated into the plan.

The upper level, accessed via an elegantly screened staircase, houses a master suite that spans the building's width, while secondary bedrooms are positioned to capture unique treetop vistas. Throughout the project, a harmonious material palette creates a sense of calm and continuity, reinforcing the home's connection to its coastal California context.

Design Team - Founded in 2001, Dimster Architecture has established itself as a distinguished architectural practice known for its sophisticated minimalist approach and contextual sensitivity. Led by Don Dimster, a second-generation architect whose architectural lineage and academic excellence - from USC to Yale - has shaped the firm's philosophical foundation, the practice brings a refined perspective to contemporary architecture.

The firm's design ethos, influenced by Don's formative years working alongside European modernist masters, particularly under the mentorship of Oswald Matias Ungers in Germany and Vienna, manifests in projects that celebrate spatial clarity and material authenticity. This international experience, combined with deep California roots, enables Dimster Architecture to create works that resonate with both global design currents and local sensibilities.

The practice has garnered significant recognition, notably through Don's own Venice residence, which received the 2013 AIA Award for Excellence in Architecture. The firm's portfolio spans residential, commercial, and cultural projects, each characterized by rigorous attention to tectonics and programmatic innovation. Their integrated design approach encompasses not only architectural services but extends to bespoke furniture design and comprehensive interior solutions.

Operating from their Los Angeles base, Dimster Architecture's methodology emphasizes site-specific responses and sustainable strategies, resulting in buildings that demonstrate exceptional spatial quality while addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Their work consistently reflects a commitment to creating architecture that harmoniously balances form, function, and human experience.