Echo Park's most envied rooftop deck

LA is cramped. High demand locations like Silver Lake, Echo Park and Los Feliz, even more so. So what do you do if you purchase a 780 sq. ft., odd-shaped, hillside lot that has the amazing fortune of being walking distance to Elysian Park, shops and restaurants in Echo Park? You build up.

Simon Storey's "Eel's Nest" in Echo Park

With limited lots available in LA, notable Echo Park architect, Simon Storey of Anonymous Architects, spent the last few years creating and building a 15 ft. wide house that’s challenging conventional notions of the ideal home. Dubbed, the “Eel’s Nest,” for the Japanese term to describe long, narrow buildings, the home is a testament to efficiency, design and exudes a real consideration for the way people really live.

So how much is “just enough space?” About 924 sq. ft. — which coincidentally, is the exact same size of my home. And trust me, it’s more than enough.

Living room with view of the rear patio

Though this home isn’t an early 1900s character home in the truest sense of the term, perhaps it is. Character homes emphasize thoughtfulness in meticulous construction and exquisite details. Generally, these homes are a testament to the architect and homeowners love for a living space. This is exactly what Storey has managed to do with his “Eel’s Nest.” “I have everything I need and no more,” he told the LA Times.

Kitchen changes elevation to define the space

Light drenched bath

Split over two floors, the house is light, bright and airy. Instead of walls, changes in elevation are used in the kitchen to distinguish spaces without blocking them from view. The shower’s ceiling is open and drenches the bath space with natural light. And the pièce de résistance: the rooftop deck. Flanked in wood with ample seating and an olive tree, it boasts some of the most enviable views of our city.

Rooftop deck with views from the Valley to the Hollywood Sign

At a Glance

• 1416 Fairbanks Pl., Los Angeles, 90026
• $559k (Previously, now withdrawn)
• 2 bedrooms/1 bath
• 924 sq. ft., 780 sq. ft. lot
• 1927 Lot, 2011 Architectural
• New Construction, City Views

Listing courtesy of Ken Shapiro – Silverwood Properties