Three black boxes stacked on a steep lot in Los Angeles form this residence by Aaron Neubert Architects, and create outdoor living spaces without needing to use any additional land.

The Tilt-Shift House has a floor area of 2,100 square feet (195 square metres) and includes three bedrooms. It sits on a dramatic incline and takes up most of the plot, so local firm Aaron Neubert Architects needed to find another way to make room for ample outdoor areas.

"As a result of the limited size and extreme slope of the site, a series of plan shifts were generated to create numerous exterior living spaces within the volume of the residence," said Aaron Neubert Architects.

From the street below the property, the first of three dark-coloured boxes contains an entry staircase and a two-car garage. In addition to the interior stair, external vertical circulation wraps around the southwest corner of the building and leads to a patio above.

The intermediate level is set back from the volume below it, creating an outdoor space with views of LA's Silver Lake neighbourhood. Here, the architects included the communal areas, including a home office in addition to the kitchen, living and dining functions.

"The second-floor open-plan living spaces engage the entry and street facing decks, perceptually expanding the interior," the studio said.

The top level contains the trio of bedrooms, with the master bedroom facing northwest and boasting its own ensuite. Similarly to the floor below, a generous terrace wraps around the corner of the home, extending the living space outdoors.

At the back, a larger patio provides a space that is more secluded. Although it does not benefit from the panoramic views of the front of the house, it is hidden from the street, and large enough for enjoying meals outdoors.

"Strategically located apertures, exterior stairs, patios, and decks around the perimeter connect the home to the multiple and diverse landscapes of the site at every opportunity; these connections serve to expand the useable living space of the compact residence," the architects said.

Architecture in LA has long been associated with life outdoors. Other homes in the city that make the most of their open-air spaces include a white hilltop property by German art director Tino Schaedler and an angular extension to a midcentury house by Andrea Lenardin Madden.

Photography is by Brian Thomas Jones and Alex Zarour.

Project credits:

Project team: Aaron Neubert (principal), Jeremy Limsenben, Xiran Zhang, Jina Seo
Structural engineer: Craig Phillips Engineering