High in the hills above Studio City, tucked along a quiet, narrow lot and barely visible from the street, sits a house that feels both futuristic and deeply personal. Today it is known as El Paradiso, but when it was built in 1964 it was called the Grossman House, designed by pioneering modernist architect Raphael Soriano for aluminum manufacturer Albert Grossman.

Their partnership grew from a shared fascination with aluminum. Grossman manufactured it, and Soriano saw it as the building material of the future. Lighter and more corrosion resistant than steel, aluminum allowed Soriano to experiment with a prefabricated structural system he called the Soria structure. Its parts could be fabricated off site, shipped efficiently, and assembled mechanically without welding. Hidden bracing inside the beams allowed the house to stand on slender columns, giving the building an elegant sense of lightness.

The Grossman House became the only surviving residence built entirely with this aluminum system.

Inside, the structure followed a precise grid, but the spaces within it were flexible and expressive. Instead of traditional walls, Soriano designed cabinetry units made from Micarta, an early laminate material. These colorful built-ins defined each room. In bedrooms they functioned as headboards and storage. In bathrooms they held sinks, mirrors, and plumbing. Their surfaces came in bold colors such as lavender, orange, yellow, blue, and faux walnut.

Glass clerestory windows above these cabinets brought daylight deep into the home and reinforced Soriano’s belief that architecture should feel open and connected to nature.

The Grossman family embraced that spirit. Albert Grossman supplied aluminum panels manufactured by his own company, and the house became a lively place for family life and community gatherings. The Grossmans raised their children there, hosted philanthropic events, and welcomed neighbors for memorable parties. Six years after construction, Grossman added a small second-floor office above the carport, demonstrating how the flexible design could adapt over time.

In 1997 the home was designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 638, recognizing its architectural importance.

Decades later, architect Stefano Di Paola encountered the house and was immediately captivated by its design and character. Though time had taken a toll, the house remained largely intact. Di Paola worked with a team of collaborators and craftspeople to carefully restore the property, repairing original features, updating systems, and reimagining certain spaces while respecting Soriano’s vision.

The result is El Paradiso, a home that honors its past while continuing to evolve. The project received a Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements in historic preservation across Los Angeles County. The award celebrates not only the restoration of a rare modernist house, but the renewed life of a place designed for creativity, community, and everyday living.