The Balaban Wergeles Residence reinterprets the California modernist tradition through a language of clean lines, crafted details, and material honesty. Rick Clemenson’s design juxtaposes smooth plaster walls with rich wood framing, introducing a tactile warmth that balances the home’s geometric precision.
A series of wooden pergolas and trellises filter sunlight into the living areas, creating a constantly shifting play of shadow and form. The corner lot site invited a strong connection to the landscape — native plantings and a low wood fence integrate seamlessly with the street, softening the building’s linear profile. Inside, clerestory windows and skylights amplify natural light, celebrating the structure’s relationship with the Southern California sky. The result is an elegant balance of openness and privacy — a home that breathes with its surroundings.
