The Cano House, an exceptionally interesting project, has been completed in the Mount Washington hills of Los Angeles. It is a detached house designed by Diego Cano-Lasso, completed in 2025. The 209-square-metre building was constructed on an exceptionally challenging plot, previously considered unsuitable for development. The architect drew inspiration from mid-20th-century Californian modernism, and almost every detail was bespoke for this project.
The project was designed by the Spanish architect Diego Cano-Lasso, who collaborated with Alejandro Cano and Belén Rodero. The two-storey house comprises four bedrooms and four bathrooms, whilst its structure is based on steel columns and concrete foundations adapted to the steep slope. The most striking feature of the design is the 13-metre wooden beams that extend beyond the building’s outline, giving the impression that the structure is suspended above the slope and facing the Los Angeles skyline. Glazed walls with revolving doors reveal successive views of the city, whilst the light, airy form minimises its impact on the landscape.
The design draws on Californian mid-century modern architecture, interpreting its aesthetic in a contemporary way. The interiors feature oak flooring, radiata pine plywood and zellige ceramic tiles. The side façades, meanwhile, are covered with original ceramic murals created by Alejandro Cano, who works under the pseudonym Doctor Cato. Spanish ceramic gutters have been given a new lease of life as lamp components; the door handles are made from stones collected on the beaches of Southern California; whilst the ceiling lighting was designed by the Spanish studio Luz Mixtura. Furthermore, boulders unearthed during the groundworks have been transformed into coffee tables, and much of the furniture was created by Doctor Cato, inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and R.M. Schindler.
The story of the house began some 14 years before the project was completed. Diego Cano-Lasso, whilst driving through Los Angeles in a 1962 Buick convertible, came across an empty plot of land. The architect saw in it an opportunity to realise his own vision of a house jutting out over a hillside. He was inspired by Julius Shulman’s photographs of the famous Stahl House and by the Californian way of life that had drawn him to the United States. Despite protests from neighbours and numerous administrative hurdles, after three years he obtained planning permission to build on land previously deemed ‘unbuildable’.
Construction of the Cano House was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. When work resumed three years later, the construction market looked completely different – there was a shortage of workers, and material prices had skyrocketed. Faced with this situation, Diego Cano-Lasso decided to complete the project himself, with the support of his brother, wife and friends. Every detail was crafted by hand, from the light fittings to the wall finishes, as this approach allowed him to give the house a personal touch. As the architect emphasises, it was only by creating every element himself that the building truly became his home. Upon completion of this long-term project, what remained was the satisfaction of having realised a dream.
Project name: Cano House
Location: Mount Washington, Los Angeles, California, USA
Project architect: Diego Cano-Lasso
Design team: Alejandro Cano, Belén Rodero
Year of completion: 2025
Floor area: 209 m²
Photographs: Iwan Baan
See also:United States|Villas and residences|Architecture | Timber| Mid-century modern | Los Angeles
Topic: Californian modernism as inspiration. Introducing Cano House in Los Angeles
