In Los Angeles County, a former relay station constructed in 1972 has been transformed into a distinctive living and event space that preserves its original Brutalist architecture while offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The property, located in the Santa Monica Mountains, was repurposed by architects John Jennings and Sasha Tarnopolsky, who purchased the site in 2005 for $950,000.
Originally built for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, the structure served as a microwave relay station for long-distance telephone and television signals until the 1990s. After years of disuse, the building remained largely intact but in a state of decay, featuring heavy gates, razor wire, and thick concrete walls designed to withstand harsh conditions.
Jennings, an architecture enthusiast, first encountered the property during a 24-hour endurance race when he unexpectedly arrived at the locked site. His initial fascination with the bunkerlike form led him and Tarnopolsky, a landscape architect, to pursue its purchase when it later came onto the market. Their vision involved maintaining the building’s geometric integrity while introducing a garden courtyard at its core, transforming the industrial space into a functional yet unconventional home.
The renovation faced regulatory challenges, with Los Angeles County planners initially requiring the 75-foot tower to be reduced to 35 feet to comply with residential height limits. The couple later discovered that the tower was protected by a special use permit without an expiration date, allowing them to retain its full height. They also abandoned plans to add residential outbuildings due to high costs and local wind conditions.
Work on the interior entailed complex concrete cutting using diamond-coated wire and blades, a process usually reserved for large infrastructure projects, to create a single open-plan space of about 2,000 square feet beneath 15-foot ceilings. A sunken gravel courtyard with an indoor pond now occupies the former equipment room, topped by a skylight that opens to the sky, drawing design inspiration from artist James Turrell’s Skyspaces.
Sustainability features include rooftop solar thermal panels that heat water for radiant floors and a pool constructed from a repurposed shipping container, which also serves as a dramatic visual element on the hillside. The landscape around the property was reshaped to restore ocean views and support native plant growth. After early planting efforts, local wildflowers unexpectedly flourished, suggesting dormant seeds had been revitalized by the changes. The site has since become habitat for various wildlife, including toads, quail, scrub jays, mourning doves, and a pair of nesting ravens.
The couple uses the space as a weekend residence and rents it out for events such as weddings, while continuing to work on the property throughout the year. Sleeping quarters remain minimal, with a converted shipping container nearby serving as their bedroom. Despite the building’s reputed resilience — it was rumored to have been constructed to withstand a nuclear blast — Jennings and Tarnopolsky have taken extensive fire-prevention measures in response to recent regional wildfires, including reinforced windows, ember-resistant landscaping, and water pumping equipment.
Jennings describes their stewardship of the site as temporary, emphasizing their growing focus on the surrounding ecosystem. Tarnopolsky hopes the property will find future occupants who appreciate its unique combination of durability and comfort, ensuring that the structure remains a cherished home for years to come.