The New Contemporary: It's All About Context

Even with multimillion-dollar price tags, homes at addresses such as 460 Palm, in Beverly Hills, Calif., start flying off the shelf while they’re still under construction. “With 460 Palm, we were able to take advantage of a larger lot that has some unique angles, as well as views of the Hollywood Hills, Century City, Beverly Hills, and downtown Los Angeles,” says Bob Etebar, ETCO Homes' principal and chief operating officer. 

The contemporary aesthetic of the exterior is carried inside with volume ceilings and copious amounts of glass, including floor-to-ceiling windows, glass sliding doors, and multi-slide doors. 

Bucilla Group Architecture, of Irvine, Calif., went with a more modern façade at 460 Palm with expansive windows and doors to capture the views. “There are sharp corners, particularly at the rear where Civic Center Drive, the alley, and the building come together,” Etebar says. Architect Greg Bucilla notes that the project is in a transitional part of Beverly Hills, with numerous contemporary buildings in the immediate neighborhood. “Context has much to do with what a builder perceives and what a community perceives,” Bucilla says.

There are 35 homes averaging 2,700 square feet and priced from the high $2 millions to more than $5 million. Models won’t open until this spring, but 15 to 20 percent of the units are already presold, Etebar says. PB