Project Data:

Firm Name:              Horst Architects

Completion Date:     8/17/2019

Square Footage:      3751

Building Use:           Custom Residence

Location:                 Laguna Beach, CA

Project Description:

While contemplating various locations for his new home, the Architect was drawn to this hillside site by both the dramatic ocean views and the surrounding open space, affording a level of privacy and contact with nature. The convergence of land and sea in the distance reveals the variations in nature that are essential and constant. The benign coastal climate would provide an opportunity for the seamless integration of interior and exterior space.

The programmatic objectives were to provide a comfortable setting to engage with family and friends, while also enjoying the views and natural surroundings of the site. Satoria will dissolve boundaries, enhance and celebrate the rituals of everyday life, such as cooking and bathing outdoors. The Architect, keenly interested in mediation and yoga, desired covered outdoor space protected from the sun, enjoying these activities to the sound of the surf and feeling the breeze on the skin.

The principle design element of this home is a continuous board formed concrete wall inscribed into the uphill edge of the site, negotiating the complex topography. The principle volumes of the residence are organized around this concrete wall, following the natural slope of the land. Glass, steel and porous wood screens are draped over the concrete wall to create spaces both communal and private, expansive and sheltering, balancing views with privacy. The visual lightness of the exterior forms and materials lead to a structure that is “of the hill rather than on the hill”. A reductionist approach to form and materiality give priority to an atmosphere of contemplation and tranquility, establishing direct contact with the sea and sky.

This project reflects the Architect’s commitment to sustainable design, integrating several features such as the concrete wall as a passive thermal heating and cooling system, photovoltaic panels, rain barrels to collect roof water, along with green planted roof areas.

C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment

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