Montecito House, Santa Barbara Reral Estate, Los Angeles Design, USA Architecture, Architect News

Montecito House in Santa Barbara

May 12, 2022

Location: UCSB, California, United States of America

Design: LOC Architects

Photos: LOC Architects

Montecito House, California

The Montecito House home is located in Montecito, CA on what was a steep and lushly landscaped site that was left vacant after an existing house there was destroyed in the 2008 Tea Fire. LOC capitalized on this by placing a series of bold, shifting volumes to frame a courtyard and create a series of terraces from which to better experience the dramatic views and topography.

The garage volume was excavated into the hillside, and the experience of approaching the house occurs along a lushly landscaped path along the side of the garage and arriving in the courtyard before entering the interior space of the house.

The house was conceived of as a series of bold volumes which frame this outdoor space to create a courtyard which flows seamlessly into the living areas on the lower level.

The private spaces are located above to capitalize on the expansive view of the mountains and ocean. These volumes shift in response to the unusual geometry of the site in relation to the street to create visual interest and opportunities for terraces. The master bedroom looks out at the ocean while appearing to be nestled in the hillside.

These bold volumes were expressed in varying shades of neutral stucco cladding to express their solid mass and differentiate them from one another. These neutral tones stand in further contrasts to the lush native landscaping on the surrounding hill.

What was the brief?
To create a four bedroom home that capitalizes on the steep topography and dramatic views of this unique site

What were the key challenges?
The topography necessitated that the house be pushed forward towards the street to be easily accessed from there, which limited open space at the front.

What were the solutions?
A series of bold, shifting volumes were utilized to frame a courtyard at the rear of the house at the level above the garage. The entry sequence is via a generous exterior staircase that leads to the courtyard, where the main entry is located. This frames the experience of the house firmly in the surrounding landscape.

How is the project unique?
Aside from the unique site, this project is also unusual as Montecito typically does not permit structures with a modern design, but instead imposes Mediterranean design via their design review process. But, as this area was badly damaged in the Tea Fire, the design standards were relaxed in order to encourage rebuilding.