bridges the ravine from east to west. A stair leads from the driveway up to the entry court. In section, the house flip-flops: the living areas in the upper level have continuous glass walls that look north to the open landscape. From above and below, two contrasting experiences of the site are framed, one broad and expansive, the other defined and closed. Within the upper level are two open courts, one for the entry, the other connecting the main house to the pool, which projects down the hill and guest house. Paths lead from these courts, the only level outdoor areas on the hilly site, into the landscape. Walls and roof are clad in Cor_ten steel plate viewed from above, the rusty bar spans the golden grass slopes.

The house is planned so that all rooms can have a cross drought if required, day and night, to obviate the need for air-conditioning. Rainwater on primary roofs and terraces is collected and stored in large cisterns under the pool terraces.The entrance and rear gardens have been carefully terraced and landscaped using hand cut local stone for the retaining walls to the terraces which are planted with old olive trees and scented wild flowers. Olive trees are the only “new” plants introduced to the site

Located at the southern end of The Sea Ranch on a narrow lot with adjacent neighbors, the master bedroom structure was pulled apart from the main house and linked with a deck to frame the ocean view and let the landscape and exterior living space take center stage on the site. We set the main house back from the oceanfront and tucked the master bedroom building behind a mature cypress grove. By organizing the program into distinct structures sited in relation to the stand of trees along the edge of the lot, a private sanctuary was created within the developed landscape of The Sea Ranch.