Link to article here.
Altamira Ranch represents the manifestation of the dreams and visions for generations of one California family. Occupying 20-acres along the rugged coastline of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the undeveloped site held memories of childhood camping trips, family picnics, and romantic sunsets between husband and wife. Because of this sense of place, the clients wanted to maintain the “untouched” feel of the land as much as possible in the design of their 15,500 square foot family complex and to connect it to the surrounding landscape both physically and visually.
Not wanting to disturb the land more than necessary, the four separate buildings–main house, study, guest house, and garage–were cut into the terrain reducing the need to grade the site. As a result, the subterranean garage and partially buried main house seem to emerge from the ground as the land slopes toward the ocean. Not only did submerging the buildings reduce the amount of site work required, it also preserved the ocean view for the surrounding neighborhood.
Click on images for full view. Architect’s website: http://www.marmol-radziner.com/
I don’t know how they got this by the Coastal Commission, but I guess a ton of money helps.
Amazing. It’s nice to have goo-gobs of money.
That is quite a gorgeous architecture, I love the structure of the whole compound. I wonder though, with all the wood finishings, does it get too hot inside?
Loved living in Palos Verdes. Still miss it, 11 years later. Thanks for finding/sharing.
Classic line there: “… the clients wanted to maintain the “untouched” feel of the land as much as possible in the design of their 15,500 square foot family complex …”
Untouched land with 15,500 SF spread through several buildings ? ? ?
AL, I was thinking the same thing. Part of the charm of PV was the fact that there were pristine areas that weren’t “developed.”
Sad to see PV going “ghetto,” i.e., trashin’ the hood so the homies can roll how they wants to.