| This ground-up residence sits on a beautiful bluff with panoramic distant ocean views in Carlsbad, California. The design is a simple, open floor plan in which every room has views to the ocean. It is geared towards outdoor living with the large living, dining and bedrooms with views and access to large adjacent outdoor deck that sits atop a bluff. The house is very light and airy inside due to floor to ceiling windows along the entire west side and the pure white main living area. To further accentuate the openness of the interior, the central stair is a code-compliant single stringer stair with open treads that allow for greater views towards the ocean from the entry. The design takes advantage of the indoor-outdoor California lifestyle and includes outdoor barbecue areas, large expansive decks off of every room and a spa with spectacular views. The landscaping features drought-tolerant native plants to shelter the house from its neighbors and the street and features an entry garden with nine-foot tall customized water feature baring a Chinese symbol formed with shadows. The rooftop solar panels are not visible, and the average electricity bill is approximately $5/mo. The completed house was built for under $250/sf.
The experience of the house is a consciously scripted sequence of spaces that begins with the entry garden. A series of turns over stone pavers that cross a threshold of water bring the visitor to face a large custom fountain before turning again to face the entry door and the first view of the ocean. Continuing through the entry, one passes a low threshold and continues the garden theme with rock garden with steps to cross another threshold to enter the main living space which opens up to 180 degree ocean views. The open plan accommodates the formal living space/ dining/ kitchen and breakfast nook all to exist in the same area with clearly identifiable zones defined by the ceiling height. The tile flooring continues out to the deck facing the ocean allowing the entire wall to open up via sliding windows extending the room to the outdoors. The central stair with open treads takes one to the upstairs office that opens to a large deck with a built-in outdoor kitchen and spa. The second floor opens initially into the public realm of home office and entertaining deck with the bedrooms and family room located down a short hall, the only one in the house. The small size of the bedrooms is compensated with an angled double height open ceiling that faces the ocean views. In addition to providing efficient use of space, the compact and simplified organization of the house makes it possible that at any place in the house, one's orientation and connection to the outdoors are always well defined.
|
