Looking at the Pacific. Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture
08/08/2023.
[California] USA
Metalocus, ELENA DE LA FUENTE
Metalocus, ELENA DE LA FUENTE
The architecture studio Anacapa Architecture designed a guest house in a wildlife environment. The objective of the project is to preserve and protect the environment since it is located in one of the last undeveloped areas of the Central Coast in California, United States.
The location on a steep slope will be an important factor for the subsequent projection of the house. The 167-square-meter house was designed to have a low visual and environmental impact on the surrounding landscape.
The location on a steep slope will be an important factor for the subsequent projection of the house. The 167-square-meter house was designed to have a low visual and environmental impact on the surrounding landscape.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
Floor plan. Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture.
Section. Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture.
Anacapa Architecture organizes a guest house where we find an open kitchen, dining room and living room with spectacular views of the vegetation thanks to the large windows. A warm home is designed with a character of space thanks to the structure and interior design.
To create the least possible impact on the location, a house with a glass peninsula is designed. Thanks to the glass walls you can see from the house 360 degree views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding hills. Steel and concrete are the main protagonists of the house, since they are materials that wear out and come closer to the environment more easily.
It is a sustainable home, because it is powered 100% by a photovoltaic energy system. Energy efficient LED lighting and appliances were selected to reduce energy demand and use.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.To create the least possible impact on the location, a house with a glass peninsula is designed. Thanks to the glass walls you can see from the house 360 degree views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding hills. Steel and concrete are the main protagonists of the house, since they are materials that wear out and come closer to the environment more easily.
It is a sustainable home, because it is powered 100% by a photovoltaic energy system. Energy efficient LED lighting and appliances were selected to reduce energy demand and use.
Project description by Anacapa Architecture
At the heart of the owner’s objective for this project was preserving and protecting the natural environment. Located on one of California's last remaining undeveloped coastal areas, this modern guest house resides on a wildlife preserve, exemplifying a successful balance of residential development and ecological preservation.
Nestled into a steep hillside, the 1,800-square-foot residence was designed for low visual and environmental impact on the surrounding landscape. Disguised by its low profile and green roof, the home invites sweeping 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding rolling hills through a generous amount of sliding glass and expansive decks, which cantilever over the steep, cliff rock face, providing a direct view of the canyon below.
“Since the structure is located on a ridge top, it’s visible from a distance. We didn’t want it to stand out or draw attention. We aimed for it to have the smallest possible impact on the natural environment and improve the ecological integrity of the property rather than degrade it further,” notes Dan Weber, architect for the house.
Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa Architecture. Photograph by Erin Feinblatt.
In an effort to blur the line between the built and the unbuilt, the house was designed like a glass peninsula, with three-way operable glass walls that summon various ocean and canyon vistas. The house is elemental, made of materials— steel, concrete and glass—that integrate seamlessly with the landscape and that will weather and patina naturally over time. Rich walnut accents and custom fixtures and furnishings add warmth and character to the space.
The guest house and the owner’s nearby main residence are completely off-grid out of necessity; there is no electricity available in this remote area. The home is 100% powered by a photovoltaic energy system. LED lighting and low-usage appliances were selected to reduce energy demands and usage. The home has a private well and water treatment system; wastewater is directed to a septic tank and dry well. A combination of radiant floor heating, cross ventilation from the abundance of operable sliding glass, and an insulating green roof regulate interior temperatures. A green roof helps the home blend into its landscape while conserving water. The design includes a detached garage, which is also discreetly built into the hillside.
More information
Architects
Anacapa Architecture. Architect.- Dan Weber.
Collaborators
Steve Willson, Willson Design.
Interior Design.- Jessica Helgerson Interior Design.
Landscape Designer.- Danielle Gaston.
Structural Engineer.- Ashley & Vance Engineering.
Civil Engineer.- Braun & Associate.
Interior Design.- Jessica Helgerson Interior Design.
Landscape Designer.- Danielle Gaston.
Structural Engineer.- Ashley & Vance Engineering.
Civil Engineer.- Braun & Associate.
General contractor
Curtis Homes.
Area
167.23 m².
Dates
2017.
Location
Central Cost, Costa Central, California, USA.
Photography
Dan Weber. Anacapa
Anacapa. Established in Santa Barbara, California under the name of Dan Weber Architecture in 2008. The architecture firm, Anacapa, emerged in 2016 to honor the collective contribution that underlies its design ethos. Generating a connection between his projects and the history of the Santa Bárbara Canal and its inhabitants.
Anacapa's design philosophy translates into thriving community intersections and distinctive private residences. By focusing on the cultural and environmental impacts of redeveloping space, Anacapa balances the social responsibility of urban planning and development, while daring to implement unexpected and imaginative functionality.
Anacapa's design philosophy translates into thriving community intersections and distinctive private residences. By focusing on the cultural and environmental impacts of redeveloping space, Anacapa balances the social responsibility of urban planning and development, while daring to implement unexpected and imaginative functionality.
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