Sea Ranch Residence_Version 1
The Sea Ranch, California
The 2,250 sqft. residence was designed to nestle comfortably and naturally into the gently sloping meadow site. It was set back within the upper half of the lot in order to align with existing neighboring development as well as provide a more elevated datum from which the occupants could enjoy less-obstructed views towards the ocean over existing homes to the west and south. The garage and parking are located behind the residence and hidden from street view. As well, all existing trees on the property would remain and largely serve to form a natural screen of the parking and entry from the adjacent Common Areas and trail.
Driveway access was planned along the southeast property line for the reason that it preserves a sense of greater open space at the Common Area and Trail along the north. The new driveway, then, would be in tandem alongside the existing driveway at the neighboring property.
A series of conceptual plan sketches were prepared for the owners. They preferred a private, sheltered courtyard arrangement that opened to embrace the broad ocean views beyond. There followed a series of variations on this core conceptual arrangement as we sought to satisfy The Sea Ranch Design Review Committee.
Two long gable-roofed wings flanked opposite sides of the courtyard. One wing contained the primary social spaces of Living, Dining, Kitchen, and Family Room. The opposite wing contained bedrooms with each a private bath.
The two wings provide privacy and wind protection for an exterior courtyard terrace used as outdoor social/dining space—easily accessed by sliding door panels connecting interior spaces to exterior.
The second story Master Bedroom Suite spans and connects the two single-story wings and is open below to form a low sheltered entry to the residence.
Exterior walls were planned to be sheathed in vertically oriented Western Red Cedar board siding, stained natural. The roof was planned to be color-coated aluminum with an integrated solar photovoltaic collection system. Window and exterior door framing/sash were to be aluminum in a color complimentary to the metal roofing.
A single car garage was accommodated as a future modification to the house, should a succeeding owner desire such space. The Family Room at the East end of the upper wing was set up to be converted to a garage space with minimal interior alterations. The exterior wall was structured to accommodate a future garage door opening.
Each submittal met with varying degrees of opposition from the DRC—from overall size of residence (2,250 sqft. maximum allowed with Bane Bill variance), to complexity of forms, quantity of glazing, ribbon glazing (as opposed to the preferred “classic Sea Ranch model of walls with 'punched' windows), use of exposed board formed concrete, elimination of any manner of overhanging roofs, type and color of roof—requiring the need to generate alternate numerous solutions in order to respond to comments and resolve concerns. The owners were satisfied with every solution proposed yet grew increasingly frustrated with the DRC always “moving the goalposts.” Upon receiving yet another critical response to the design, the owner stopped all work entirely on the project, put the lot back on the market, sold it, and left The Sea Ranch to embark on another coastal project elsewhere.
