Wrap Recess House

Brian Thomas Jones

• Architects

Sited on a private coastal California hillside street lined with five tightly stacked homes, the 3000 square foot residence optimizes a compact footprint, resulting in an experience that maximizes outdoor living, without compromising the privacy of the family. A façade of smooth plaster and cedar siding bundle the interior rooms with strategically placed exterior spaces, producing long sightlines throughout the interior.

photo_credit Brian Thomas Jones — Brian Thomas Jones

The informal configuration supports the family’s love of music and art, generating numerous opportunities to display their art collection and engage in impromptu recitals. On the ground floor, an open living space forms the center of the home, bracketed by two courtyards that provide direct access to the outdoors, generous natural light, and views to the surrounding coastal landscapes.

Telescoping doors and windows extend the living, dining, and kitchen seamlessly out to the entry garden and the interior pool terrace. Additionally, a guest quarters opening to the rear landscape and a music studio connecting to a covered terrace are positioned adjacent the primary living areas. Three bedrooms are located on the second floor, separated from one another by the staircase hall, creating a private retreat for every member of the family. The master bedroom, coupled with an en-suite bath, walk-in closet, and a wrap around deck, capture views of the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

Two additional bedrooms share a second full bath and an exterior deck overlooking the pool. The connection of the second floor decks with the pool terrace via a circular staircase creates a circuit of exterior living to fully engage the coastal climate.