i + D - March/April 2020 - 53

Four elements drove the design of the
mid-century remodel: indoor/outdoor living,
natural light, having an open floor plan
with continuity of space and views, and the
use of modern materials that fit seamlessly
into the mid-century architecture.
(Image: Chang Kyun Kim)

1.
2.

1. Sweis and her team added 750 square
feet to the original bones of the 1949 home.
(Image: Chang Kyun Kim)

Santa Monica
Mid-Century
Sustainability in residential design is always
top of mind for Abeer Sweis, a design partner
with husband Jeff Kloss at SweisKloss in Santa
Monica, California. "For me, there's no reason
not to do it-unless there really, truly is a reason
that you can't do it," she says. "I think back to
how long ago we talked about everybody having
solar panels on their roofs, and we're just finally
getting to that point. It seems like it took a really
long time to get here."
But Sweis is hopeful that things will move more
quickly now, especially since sustainability is
more affordable than it ever has been before.
A few hundred dollars on high-efficiency HVAC
equipment is not out of the question when
clients are spending $9,000 on a refrigerator. She
says, "I'm getting more clients who are willing
to spend money on things that are good for the
environment, and that's really nice to see."

2. A rendering of the unique green roof SweisKloss
designed for a client's remodel in Santa Monica.
(Rendering: SweisKloss)

Since 1995, Sweis has taught sustainability topics at UCLA Extension, Cal Poly Pomona, Pierce College,
Woodbury University, and other Los Angeles-area design schools. "We go through all the factors with
students, from energy to daylighting to materials, heating, cooling, and more so they can utilize some of
these things in their projects," she says.
Saving buildings is central to Sweis' sustainability model. "Let's not throw everything out and start over
if we don't have to," she explains. "We try to remodel before we build new." So when a Santa Monica
couple approached her firm in 2013 to expand a 1,200-square-foot home to meet the needs of their
growing family, the project was a perfect fit.
The home was designed originally by Frederick Monhoff in 1949. Instead of demolishing it, Sweis and her
team worked with the original bones of the three-bedroom, one-bath house and added 750 square feet
on the side yard, including a new wing that provides two additional bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a den.
"We used leftover space for a laundry room and pantry," she explains. "We also expanded the dining area
and renovated the main living space with the exception of the original brick fireplace."
Now FSC-certified bamboo flooring runs through much of the house including both bedroom wings. The
main living space features porcelain tile flooring with a high amount of recycled content, and recycled
glass tile is used in the bathrooms. Sweis and her team also designed an accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
to replace the existing one-car garage and guest room; it is currently under construction. The most
challenging element of the home is the green roof.
"Green roofs in standalone residential projects are not as common as they should be," says Sweis. She
finds that not many contractors are willing to take on such a small project. But with two residential green
roofs in progress, her firm is shedding light on an exciting energy-saving option. "The green roof with its
layer of soil and planting keeps the space cool," she says. "It doesn't require any additional AC at all."

i+D - March/April 2020

i + D - March/April 2020

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