Galadriel

“Located on a steeply sloping, south facing lot, this site has spectacular ocean views and great exposure to natural light. Designed in the west coast modernist tradition, the house is a composition of strong horizontal planes and wide expanses of glass, punctuated with a strong vertical stone fireplace. Respectful of the climate, the living spaces have large covered decks for weather protection, but the addition of a clerestory window band above infuses the interior spaces with ample natural light. On the north side, this window band connects the interior with the textural canopy of fir trees that line the street and provide privacy from the homes on the hillside above.

The main entrance is through a fern grotto and across a reflecting pool that contains a solitary ornamental tree, lit from a circular opening in the roof above. The house is completely transparent here, with the wide open expanse of the ocean on one side and an intimate, tranquil garden on the other. Between the living room and the pool, a wood stair cantilevers out from the stone retaining wall, with a series of stainless steel cords descending down the opening like a soft waterfall to provide the guard rail.

This open concept home has a simple material palette of douglas fir beams and paneling, stone, metal and glass. It is meant to convey a modern aesthetic in a warm and inviting manner.”

—Peter Hildebrand, Iredale Group Architecture