Home Front Build + CarbonShack Host Open House For L.A. Design Weekend
Blending Sustainable Living and Heritage: How A Low-Carbon Home Complements its Historic Neighborhood
Mt. Washington ADU | Photos by Cris Nolasco
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 3, 2025) – Home Front Build, an award-winning, sustainably focused architecture firm, along with its sister design studio and biophilic lifestyle brand, CarbonShack, invites the public to an exclusive open house at its Mount Washington ADU during this year’s LA Design Weekend. Taking place on Sunday, September 28th, 4-8PM, this event off ers Angelenos an opportunity to explore a truly low-carbon, nature-integrated home that honors the rich history and unique landscape of the area.
The Mt. Washington ADU is a remarkable example of biophilic and sustainable design that harmonizes with its natural and historical surroundings. Nestled in Los Angeles’ vibrant Mount Washington neighborhood, this project is designed to be a contemporary complement to the historic Craftsman homes built on the property in the 1920s. A key feature is the strategic use of softly rounded river rocks from the nearby Arroyo Seco, a character-defi ning element found throughout the community in landscape walls and foundations. By binding this new design to the historic fabric of the neighborhood, the ADU blends seamlessly with its surroundings while being thoroughly modern.
“The ADU shows that it's possible to build a thoroughly contemporary and sustainable dwelling that not only fi ts into a historic neighborhood but enhances it,” said Steve Pallrand, Founding Designer of Home Front Build and CarbonShack. “We're thrilled to be opening the doors for this LA Design Weekend to show the community how we blended modern innovation with timeless community character.”
Photo by Mariko Reed
The all-electric, solar-powered home is a showcase of modern, low-carbon living. It leverages the natural elements of the site—built into the hillside for cooling and situated under a 100-year-old Live Oak—to reduce energy needs. The structure features highly effi cient heat pumps for heating, cooling, and hot water, and includes an induction cooktop and electric oven for state of the art cooking. This holistic approach to energy conservation minimizes the need for solar panels, accelerating the path to true energy independence for homeowners. Attendees will have the chance to explore the custom-appointed interiors, which includes woodwork made exclusively from locally salvaged trees, custom hemp fabrics and drapery in patterns inspired by kelp and plant cellular structure, laser cut wood veneer lamps, and hand painted, locally produced coral pattern tiles.
In addition, the event will feature a special wine tasting from local winemaker Byron Blatty. A sommelier from their Highland Park tasting room will be pouring and discussing their limited-edition, handcrafted wines, which are produced from sustainably farmed, family-owned vineyards right here in Los Angeles County.
Event Details
● What: Open House at the Mt. Washington Biophilic ADU
● When: Sunday, September 28th, 4PM – 8PM
● Where: Mt. Washington ADU 3926 Glenalbyn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90065
● Join Us: RSVP Here
● More Information: LA Design Weekend
● Special Guest Wine Tastings: Byron Blatty
About Home Front Build + CarbonShack
@home_front_build | @CarbonShackDesign
Home Front Build is a Los Angeles-based, award-winning fi rm specializing in architecture, design, and construction. With over 23 years of experience, the design fi rm’s in-house team of architects, interior designers, and artisans work together to create luxury new builds, modern upgrades, and historic restorations with seamless execution.
CarbonShack crafts environmentally sustainable home environments inspired by the beauty of nature.
