Modern Architecture
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Houzz Tour: Modern Surf House Full of California Craftsmanship
In Santa Cruz, a bohemian oceanfront getaway celebrates craft, design, sustainability and West Coast surf culture
When a family of surfers decided to build a vacation home in the husband’s hometown of Santa Cruz, California, it wanted to create something environmentally sensitive and congruous with the neighborhood. But the home also needed to be worthy of the spectacular setting: a bluff overlooking one of the state’s best surf breaks. The family looked to award-winning firms Feldman Architecture and Commune Design to realize its dream.
Because of the home’s proximity to the cliff edge, everyone understood that it would be a complex undertaking. Still, red tape and severe storms threatened the design, and rising construction costs almost sank the project. Fortunately, with the help of RJL Construction, Feldman Architecture righted the ship. Now a modern marvel wrought in reclaimed Monterey cypress and filled with California creativity sits lightly upon the land, close — but not too close — to where it meets the sea.
Because of the home’s proximity to the cliff edge, everyone understood that it would be a complex undertaking. Still, red tape and severe storms threatened the design, and rising construction costs almost sank the project. Fortunately, with the help of RJL Construction, Feldman Architecture righted the ship. Now a modern marvel wrought in reclaimed Monterey cypress and filled with California creativity sits lightly upon the land, close — but not too close — to where it meets the sea.
The Silicon Valley-based homeowners had used an older home on the site for several years before embarking on the project, so they already had an intimate sense of the daily and seasonal impacts of weather on the home and property, says Feldman Architecture partner Chris Kurrle, who worked on the project with Feldman and associate Matt Lindsay. Thanks to that home, the owners and design team also had the advantage of being able to scope out the second-story vistas.
“All of this helped inform the siting strategies and the locations of internal spaces and views,” Kurrle says. “It also gave everyone a wonderful sense of the place, which set the tone for the entire project.”
“All of this helped inform the siting strategies and the locations of internal spaces and views,” Kurrle says. “It also gave everyone a wonderful sense of the place, which set the tone for the entire project.”
The geology of the land also determined where they could build.
Per requirements set by the California Coastal Commission and local building and planning departments, they had to set the home far enough back from the bluff that it could “live” for 100 years before being threatened by the edge’s retreat.
Geologists calculated a safe distance and the project commenced. Midway through construction, unusually severe winter storms caused damage that triggered a reevaluation of the setback. But fortunately the geologists’ reevaluation was ultimately in their favor, and the design was able to remain intact.
At one point, between the lengthy entitlements process, skyrocketing construction costs and high initial bids, “we were close to pulling the plug on this project,” Feldman admits. He calls RJL Construction “the real heroes of the project” for enabling them to execute the project within their cost constraints.
(Scroll to the bottom to see a site plan and section drawing.)
Per requirements set by the California Coastal Commission and local building and planning departments, they had to set the home far enough back from the bluff that it could “live” for 100 years before being threatened by the edge’s retreat.
Geologists calculated a safe distance and the project commenced. Midway through construction, unusually severe winter storms caused damage that triggered a reevaluation of the setback. But fortunately the geologists’ reevaluation was ultimately in their favor, and the design was able to remain intact.
At one point, between the lengthy entitlements process, skyrocketing construction costs and high initial bids, “we were close to pulling the plug on this project,” Feldman admits. He calls RJL Construction “the real heroes of the project” for enabling them to execute the project within their cost constraints.
(Scroll to the bottom to see a site plan and section drawing.)
Sourcing natural, sustainable materials was as important to the homeowners as responsibly siting the home’s location was. The exterior is clad in board-and-batten siding made from reclaimed Monterey cypress, a species endemic to California. It’s unstained, which will allow it to weather to a beautiful silvery gray in the salt air.
In an outdoor area overlooking the ocean, a dining space, custom copper in-ground spa, kitchen and grill encourage gathering and entertaining.
Hybrid fire grill: Kalamazoo; spa: Diamond Spas
In an outdoor area overlooking the ocean, a dining space, custom copper in-ground spa, kitchen and grill encourage gathering and entertaining.
Hybrid fire grill: Kalamazoo; spa: Diamond Spas
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The interior wood, including the cabinets, is also reclaimed Monterey cypress, stained to give it a warm tone.
The wood is perhaps the home’s most humble feature and its greatest asset. It was all sourced locally by Evan Shively of Arborica, one of the most respected sawyers in the business.
“The reclaimed Monterey cypress was used from ‘tail to snout,’ or maybe ‘twig to trunk,’ in that the lowest-grade wood served as the exterior siding and fencing, while the highest-grade delicately graces the interiors — making the home structurally mirror the Cypress tree itself,” says Kurrle, who credits Shively for the vision. “Waste in the milling process and trunk use was minimized by holistically integrating every level of wood grade and their respective quantities and dimensions into the design.”
A huge log reclaimed from a cemetery in Colma, California — dubbed “The Colma Biggin” — provided beautiful, clean-grained wood for all of the flooring.
The wood is perhaps the home’s most humble feature and its greatest asset. It was all sourced locally by Evan Shively of Arborica, one of the most respected sawyers in the business.
“The reclaimed Monterey cypress was used from ‘tail to snout,’ or maybe ‘twig to trunk,’ in that the lowest-grade wood served as the exterior siding and fencing, while the highest-grade delicately graces the interiors — making the home structurally mirror the Cypress tree itself,” says Kurrle, who credits Shively for the vision. “Waste in the milling process and trunk use was minimized by holistically integrating every level of wood grade and their respective quantities and dimensions into the design.”
A huge log reclaimed from a cemetery in Colma, California — dubbed “The Colma Biggin” — provided beautiful, clean-grained wood for all of the flooring.
To create the look and feel of the home, Feldman Architecture and its collaborators at Los Angeles-based interiors studio Commune Design drew inspiration from an aesthetic they called “Professor Who Surfs.” Commune describes the vibe as “free-spirited but intellectual, casual and highly practical, yet fully considered.”
This metaphorical free-spirited intellectual apparently has a great eye for design, as do the real-life homeowners. One is a trained chef who was extremely involved in the kitchen’s layout and details, Kurrle says. The open shelves are filled with pottery by Sausalito, California-based Heath Ceramics, among other makers. Bright blues pop against the warm wood and black soapstone countertop and range backsplash.
The entrance to a walk-in pantry is in the corner, between the refrigerator (concealed on the right) and the range, which has a white Italian plaster vent hood.
This metaphorical free-spirited intellectual apparently has a great eye for design, as do the real-life homeowners. One is a trained chef who was extremely involved in the kitchen’s layout and details, Kurrle says. The open shelves are filled with pottery by Sausalito, California-based Heath Ceramics, among other makers. Bright blues pop against the warm wood and black soapstone countertop and range backsplash.
The entrance to a walk-in pantry is in the corner, between the refrigerator (concealed on the right) and the range, which has a white Italian plaster vent hood.
The kitchen opens to the dining room and a living room, a sliver of which is seen here. Glass doors slide open completely, creating an uninterrupted flow between the indoor and outdoor living spaces.
Radiant floors heat the home; thanks to the coastal setting, ocean breezes alone provide cooling.
Windows and doors: Quantum
Radiant floors heat the home; thanks to the coastal setting, ocean breezes alone provide cooling.
Windows and doors: Quantum
Looking straight from the entry across the dining area and out through the back windows, you can just make out Moss Landing across Monterey Bay.
To keep all eyes on that view, the architects created a cypress-and-steel staircase with a simple open tread design and slim rail, offsetting the single stair string to the wall to minimize its visual impact.
To keep all eyes on that view, the architects created a cypress-and-steel staircase with a simple open tread design and slim rail, offsetting the single stair string to the wall to minimize its visual impact.
Here you can see the beautiful grain of the cypress treads and the elegant way they meet the steel balusters.
This wider shot reveals a built-in nook in the entry, backed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn fabric.
Throughout the home are furniture pieces and other works by renowned artists, artisans and designers — many based in California — including Stan Bitters, Tripp Carpenter, Tanya Aguiñiga, Doug McCollough, Alma Allen, BBDW, Sam Maloof and the Nakashima workshops. They’re mixed with custom upholstered seating, vintage furnishings and lighting (including fixtures by Paavo Tynell and Ignazio Gardella) and found objects.
Shop for entryway furniture
Throughout the home are furniture pieces and other works by renowned artists, artisans and designers — many based in California — including Stan Bitters, Tripp Carpenter, Tanya Aguiñiga, Doug McCollough, Alma Allen, BBDW, Sam Maloof and the Nakashima workshops. They’re mixed with custom upholstered seating, vintage furnishings and lighting (including fixtures by Paavo Tynell and Ignazio Gardella) and found objects.
Shop for entryway furniture
The ocean-facing primary bedroom, seen here, is upstairs, as is an office and another bedroom.
The kaleidoscope-pattern rug is from Commune’s collection with contemporary rug maker Christopher Farr.
The kaleidoscope-pattern rug is from Commune’s collection with contemporary rug maker Christopher Farr.
Allison Harding curated artwork throughout the home, which is a mix of vintage and new. Much of it was influenced by West Coast skate and surf culture in the 1960s and ’70s.
Not visible here is a textile piece by California contemporary textile artist Kira Dominguez Hultgren, which hangs above the bed.
Not visible here is a textile piece by California contemporary textile artist Kira Dominguez Hultgren, which hangs above the bed.
The primary bath features a large soaking tub.
Lutron’s HomeWorks system integrates control of the home’s lighting and shades.
An Architect and a Designer at Home at The Sea Ranch
Lutron’s HomeWorks system integrates control of the home’s lighting and shades.
An Architect and a Designer at Home at The Sea Ranch
On the first floor, Commune’s Mochi cement tiles in Indigo, a collaboration with Exquisite Surfaces, clad the walls and floor of a guest bathroom’s shower. The Vola fixtures are unlacquered brass.
Throughout the house, Commune used materials, including unlacquered copper and brass, intended to develop a patina over time.
Shop for bathroom fixtures
Throughout the house, Commune used materials, including unlacquered copper and brass, intended to develop a patina over time.
Shop for bathroom fixtures
A guest room and a family room face an internal courtyard. (There’s a bunk room on the first floor too.)
Across the courtyard are two single-story structures that create the home’s low-profile street-facing facade. On the left is a garage; the surfboard hints at what’s inside the structure on the right.
(Scroll to the second-to-last photo to see the layout of the structures and courtyards.)
Across the courtyard are two single-story structures that create the home’s low-profile street-facing facade. On the left is a garage; the surfboard hints at what’s inside the structure on the right.
(Scroll to the second-to-last photo to see the layout of the structures and courtyards.)
The courtyard is the perfect entertaining spot in the afternoon and evenings, Kurrle explains, because the home itself protects it from strong winds.
Tiles created by Stan Bitters, a California ceramic sculptor, surround the courtyard’s wood-burning fireplace, which anchors the space.
Tiles created by Stan Bitters, a California ceramic sculptor, surround the courtyard’s wood-burning fireplace, which anchors the space.
The open bifold door on the right-hand structure reveals a room outfitted for fun.
“Every member of the family is a surfer and a lover of the ocean,” Kurrle says. “The board room, as it was coined, serves as both surfboard and gear storage, as well as a wet bar accessible when entertaining in the adjacent front courtyard.”
If you zoom in on this and the previous photo, you can see that an oversize pegboard system covering three of the walls keeps all of the gear organized.
Overhead bifold door: Schweiss Doors
“Every member of the family is a surfer and a lover of the ocean,” Kurrle says. “The board room, as it was coined, serves as both surfboard and gear storage, as well as a wet bar accessible when entertaining in the adjacent front courtyard.”
If you zoom in on this and the previous photo, you can see that an oversize pegboard system covering three of the walls keeps all of the gear organized.
Overhead bifold door: Schweiss Doors
Between the board room and the front courtyard is an outdoor shower.
You can almost hear it calling, “Rinse and repeat.”
You can almost hear it calling, “Rinse and repeat.”
A section drawing illustrating the home’s relationship to the cliff edge
A site plan showing the scale and layout of the buildings on the property
Structural engineering: Strandberg Engineering
Sawyer: Evan Shively of Arborica
More on Houzz
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Sawyer: Evan Shively of Arborica
More on Houzz
Tour more vacation homes
See photos of modern home exteriors
Find a design-build firm
Shop for outdoor furniture
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two daughters
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Size: 4,490 square feet (417 square meters); four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designers: Chris Kurrle, Jonathan Feldman and Matt Lindsay of Feldman Architecture (architecture); Commune Design (interior design); Ground Studio (landscape design); Tucci Lighting (lighting design)
Builder: RJL Construction
“This project was very exciting from day one,” says Jonathan Feldman, founding partner and CEO of his eponymous San Francisco architectural firm.
“The site, with its relationship to the dramatic coastal cliff and the amazing panoramic ocean views, was quite special, as was the owners’ excitement to create something very specific and special for their young family. They had previously done a significant residential project and said, ‘This time we want to do it right.’ ”
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