Blue Jay Way III House by McClean Design, A Light-Filled Modern Sanctuary in the Bird Streets
Architecture Design of Blue Jay Way III House
Description About The Project
Set on a dramatic hillside in Los Angeles’ prestigious Bird Streets, Blue Jay Way III House by McClean Design is a refined contemporary residence featuring panoramic city-to-ocean views, layered indoor–outdoor living, and light-filled basement spaces shaped by water, wood, and glass.
The Project “Blue Jay Way III House” Information:
- Project Name: Blue Jay Way III House
- Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Project Year: 2018
- Area: 14,000 SF
- Designed by: McClean Design
A Hillside Residence Framed by Panoramic Views
Perched on a sloping lot in the iconic Bird Streets of Los Angeles, Blue Jay Way III House by McClean Design takes full advantage of its elevated position, capturing uninterrupted views that stretch from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean. Built on a quarter-acre parcel with a strict height limit and limited street frontage, the project presented a complex architectural challenge—one that required equal attention to discretion, presence, and light.
“The goal was to create a home that feels calm and open despite a very constrained envelope,” McClean Design explained to Luxury Houses Magazine. “Every move had to work hard—visually, spatially, and experientially.”
Discreet Arrival and a Floating Architectural Language
The steep slope of Blue Jay Way became a defining asset. By locating the garage entry at the basement level on the southern edge of the site, the architects were able to shield parking from view while preserving a clean, confident street presence. A semi-private pedestrian path gently guides visitors from the street to the front door, creating a gradual transition from public to private.
One of the home’s most distinctive gestures is its continuous flat roof plane, which visually separates from the exterior walls. This detail lends the house a sense of weightlessness, further enhanced by warm wood ceilings that extend seamlessly from interior to exterior.
“We wanted the roof to read almost as a floating plane,” the architects noted. “By allowing light and wood to bleed outward, the architecture becomes softer and more inviting.”
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Main Level: Axial Views and Fluid Living Spaces
Upon entry, the home immediately reveals its strongest axis—a direct visual line toward downtown Los Angeles. This moment of arrival anchors the main living level, where spaces are arranged to frame views while maintaining a sense of intimacy.
To the left, the dining room is defined by a pair of matching fireplaces that extend both inside and out. An exterior water wall animates the space, reflecting ripples of sunlight back into the interior and adding movement to the otherwise restrained material palette.
To the right, the open-plan kitchen and living area unfold toward the backyard. Large multi-slide glass panels stack away, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior and allowing daily life to spill effortlessly outdoors.
“Indoor–outdoor flow isn’t just about big glass openings,” McClean Design shared. “It’s about aligning views, light, and circulation so the house feels intuitive and natural.”
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A Private Master Suite with Unmatched Vistas
Tucked discreetly at the rear of the main level, the primary suite enjoys what may be the most commanding views in the house. The bedroom opens directly onto the pool terrace, reinforcing the connection between rest, water, and horizon.
Behind the sleeping area, his-and-hers bathrooms and closets are carefully separated by a skylit vestibule, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the private zone while preserving privacy and calm.
“Even the most intimate spaces deserve light and a sense of ceremony,” the architects reflected. “That skylit transition became a quiet luxury within the suite.”
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Basement Level: Daylight, Entertainment, and Wellness
Thanks to the natural topography of the site, the basement level is far from subterranean. Daylight enters generously from the rear of the property, transforming what is often a secondary level into a vibrant extension of the home.
This level accommodates a four-car garage, entertainment spaces, two additional bedrooms, and a gym. A dramatic floating-tread staircase is crowned by a large skylight, while an adjacent water-feature lightwell washes the level with natural light.
The media room, designed with stadium seating, sits beside a lounge and wine room and features playful, wall-to-wall candy drawers—an unexpected detail that adds personality to the home’s refined atmosphere.
Bedrooms on this level open directly to the backyard, where water from the upper-level pool spills into a lower plunge pool, reinforcing the vertical continuity of landscape and architecture.
“We were very intentional about making the basement feel alive,” McClean Design said. “Light, water, and landscape were essential tools in achieving that.”
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A Contemporary Expression of Bird Streets Living
Blue Jay Way III House by McClean Design exemplifies a thoughtful response to site constraints, transforming limitations into defining features. By pairing panoramic views with subtle detailing and light-filled interiors, the home offers a modern Los Angeles lifestyle that feels both elevated and livable.
As showcased by Luxury Houses, this residence stands as a refined interpretation of contemporary hillside architecture—one where clarity, comfort, and connection to the city below exist in perfect balance.
Photo credit: Simon Berlyn | Source: McClean Design
For more information about this project; please contact the Architecture firm :
– Add: 391 S. Glassell St. Orange, CA 92866
– Tel: 714.505.0556
– Email: info@mccleandesign.com
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