This house, on Avenida Cornelio in San Clemente, sits on a narrow corner lot enjoying views of the hills, the city, and the Pacific horizon beyond. Conceived as a collection of light and airy public spaces set above a base of private areas the house is at once protected from the street while being open to the views that surround it.

The thick solid wall of the entry reflects the gentle curve of the street and anchors the building to the site, screening the family room and bedrooms on the lower floor. On the opposite side of the house the bedroom spaces articulate in response to the activities that take place within, forming a collection of private patios that take advantage of the temperate climate.

A light washed vertical core leads up to the great room and master bedroom level where lofted roof planes rise to invite the coastal breezes, shade the sun, and expose the beautiful vistas beyond. At the top of the stairs a modern kitchen composed in carrera and walnut grounds the great room and provides striking coastal views from the casual dining island. The top of the curving base wall of the lower floor forms a long counter that extends from the kitchen through the dining and living room as a buffet and book case. The clerestory light shelf above softens the strong southern light as it reinforces the long, horizontal expression of the great room.

The great room terminates in a sunset deck that looks over the neighboring rooftops to the ocean beyond. Turning back toward the kitchen you realize that a long continuous view corridor extends through the entire upper floor to the morning deck over the garage. Here a gently flowing water feature laughs in the midst of a sunny herb garden with fragrant blossoming citrus trees screening the neighbors beyond.

Grounded and transparent the house responds to its site and its surroundings while inwardly reflecting its owners tastes and sensibilities. The Cornelio house is made for this place and this time. You realize as the day ends and the living room softly reflects the sun’s hues of orange and red that here is the only place you need to be.

Material Used :
1. Fleetwood – Aluminum windows and doors
2. Bedrosians – Stone counter tops, tiles, flooring
3. Coulson Cedar – wood soffit material, wood siding for garage door
4. Merlex – exterior plaster
5. Lighted Mirror – bathroom mirrors
6. Miele - appliances