Foster + Partners has released new images for its mixed-use One Beverly Hills project in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, which will be built on a 17.5-acre site, currently one of the largest and most environmentally advanced projects underway in the United States. 

The project site is situated adjacent to the iconic Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.

Developed for Alagem Capital Group and Cain International, the new masterplan will comprise three environmentally sustainable buildings on the site: two residential condominium towers, filled with plenty of green, and a third building housing a 42 all-suite luxury hotel and 37 shared ownership condominiums.  

The project will feature a 8-acres of breathtaking botanical gardens that will be planted at the heart of the site, while the Beverly Hilton will also be upgraded to bring the green of the gardens into the hotel experience. 

Foster + Partners aims to create the healthiest and future-forward development and the new buildings and gardens of One Beverly Hills are designed to exceed California’s own ambitious sustainability goals. One Beverly Hills project is expected to open in 2026.

"In its beginnings, Beverly Hills was agricultural flat land – a green oasis that fed a growing urbanity. A century later, we have seized on this inspiration to create an organic architecture that merges with landscape, a large part of which is publicly accessible, creating a shared resource for the city," said Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman, Foster + Partners. 

"The richness of Californian culture owes much to its diversity of influences, which comes together with the urgent need for sustainability – particularly conservation and recycling of water for the greenery. We welcome the opportunity to create a holistic masterplan based on a green approach across the entire site," Foster added.

Foster + Partners is working with Los Angeles based multi-disciplinary design firm RIOS, while Gensler will serve as executive architect on the project.

The Santa Monica Monica building will reach at 125 meters with 32 storey, while the Gardens Building will reach at 112 meters with 28 storey. A new 10 story building will join the hotels, and it will house 42 all-suite guest accommodations, a fine dining restaurant and 37 shared ownership condominiums.

The legendary Beverly Hilton will receive significant reinvestment to reflect the design of One Beverly Hills, by adding a new arrival drive and lobby area, ballroom upgrades, restyled pool and 36 new poolside cabana rooms. 

A new 38,000-square-foot (3,530-square-metre) conference center will have the most sophisticated technology and be enhanced with unique breakout areas that capitalize on the perfect Southern California weather.  

The two residential towers are designed to maximize privacy and provide unobstructed views from the Pacific Ocean to the mountains beyond the famous Hollywood Hills sign. 

"They will be the two tallest buildings in Beverly Hills, and merge with the gardens and Los Angeles Country Club landscapes by continuing the greenery up the facades," said Foster + Partners. 

"Their curving and receding forms, soft edges and oversized balconies mediate between private living and garden greenery, breaking down boundaries between indoor and outdoor living," added the firm.

"The design of One Beverly Hills is sensitive to the history and rich traditions of California. Set within lush greenery, the organic architecture and the landscape come together to form a symbolic gateway that is very much of its place," said David Summerfield, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners.

In addition, Foster + Partners has devised an elevated platform to be built from the western side of the property across to the Beverly Hilton to create the magnificent Botanical Gardens. 

This 8-acre botanical gardens will be planted with over 40 trees and 250 plant species from 13 different botanical regions of California and feature curated sculptures, water features, shaded seating areas, 2 miles of pathways and other amenities. 

Predominantly planted with water smart landscaping, the entire garden will be irrigated through an extensive greywater system. A community-based conservancy made up of One Beverly Hills residents, school and community leaders, and representatives of the hotels will oversee educational programming and operations.  

One Beverly Hills project is envisioned for a sustainable future and committed to being the benchmark for environmental sustainability, bringing together multiple technologies to aggressively lower emissions and energy consumption. 

As the firm explains, the buildings of One Beverly Hills will be devised with a central geothermal system, harnessing the earth’s constant soil temperature to efficiently create heat, hot water and reject heat for cooling without the use of gas. The system also reduces the number of cooling towers needed saving millions of gallons of water annually.

The studio added that "using collected rainwater and recycled greywater, the extensive One Beverly Hills landscape will be 100% water sustainable."

"These steps will save millions of gallons of water a year.   In an effort to support grid harmonization and safeguard local energy infrastructure, the project is designed with a significant centralized battery storage system, onsite photovoltaic array, and a chilled water thermal energy storage system." 

"This will allow the project to be flexible in managing electrical demand by minimizing imported electricity in real time intervals when grid generation is composed of dirtier fuel sources. It will also be responsive to local & utility-level demand response events." 

"The new 1.375 million square feet of buildings will be built from recycled, low embodied carbon and low toxicity materials. The space is also designed to promote multimodal mobility, encouraging walking, biking and alternative transportation, as well as offering extensive EV charging capabilities in the underground parking garage," the firm added.

"The design is all about working with nature, with buildings set within the landscape and opening up the interior to the outside. The result in a sustainable ensemble that is in tune with its surroundings," said Armstrong Yakubu, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners.

All images © DBox, courtesy of Foster + Partners.

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