- Interior
Although LOS ANGELES, with its iconic Hollywood sign, almost literally functions as a billboard for North American culture, the city conceals many other influences. For instance, architecture studio 22RE recently reimagined a 1920S SPANISH-STYLE RESIDENCE in the affluent Los Feliz neighbourhood. The Glendower Residence marks a key moment in the work of founder DEAN LEVIN, who leveraged his background as both an artist and architect to create a true masterpiece.
The home, originally a Spanish Revival residence designed by Theodore J. Scott, received an extension that respects the original structure while introducing a new way of living. The house unfolds around a sunken rotunda, featuring a carved wooden ceiling that reinforces the building’s Mediterranean references. 
A serendipitous path
22RE was founded in 2021, but Dean Levin’s journey began long before that. He studied architecture at Pratt Institute, spent twelve years as a visual artist in New York, and returned to Southern California during the pandemic. There, he began renovating his own home in the Hollywood Hills, immersing himself in the project from morning to night. Sharing fragments of the renovation on social media unexpectedly generated numerous requests from friends and later from unknown followers. This was the genesis of 22RE. The studio’s name references the engine of Levin’s Toyota pickup, his first purchase after returning to Los Angeles. He wanted a collaborative studio, moving away from the individual authorship typical in the art world. Much like the engines that inspired it, the studio strives for discreet yet enduring designs that will be treasured for years. The atelier is known for its meticulous attention to materials and detail, drawing on natural elements, industrial components, and light to inform a design approach that explores historical references across different cultures.
SMALL CIRCULAR OPENINGS — OR “PORTALS” — CREATE A SUBTLE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE 1920S STRUCTURE AND THE CONTEMPORARY ADDITION
Spanish roots
The Glendower Residence also embraces other cultural influences. The Spanish Revival house was expanded from approximately 1,220 to 1,830 square metres to accommodate a tennis court and swimming pool. This was achieved within the existing structure, respecting its historic architecture. According to Levin, the challenge lay in connecting old and new without creating jarring contrasts. 
The façade remained largely intact, but beyond the entrance, a series of vaulted passages, original wooden floors, stained glass windows, and clay tiles unfold. Small circular openings — or “portals”, as the architect calls them — link spaces from different eras, creating a subtle transition between the 1920s structure and the contemporary addition. The layout leads to the circular living area, where arched vaults and plasterwork guide the eye through the space. Above, an intricately carved wooden ceiling provides warmth and detail. 
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Photography by Rich Stapleton
Text by Carolien Depamelaere