A steep, lushly wooded canyon lot in Laguna
Beach provides a dramatic background to this new,
3,950 square foot rustic contemporary home.
Sited to replicate the location and orientation of three
small cottages that once occupied the site, the house is distilled into
separate “living boxes” adapted to the topography and oriented to the sun and canyon
breezes as the old cottages once did.
Warmed by an in-floor hydronic system and powered by roof
mounted PV systems this “zero net energy” home uses strategically placed
operable windows and skylights to allow for ultimate control of the canyon breezes
to help keep it cool.
While maximizing view opportunities the large expanses of
glass are protected from the high summer sun by deep roof overhangs and supplemental
shade devices. In the winter, the sun
penetrates deep into the structure to charge the thermal mass of the exposed
concrete floors and retaining walls.