shubin donaldson wraps california residence in ipe wood screens and glass

the skyline residence by US practice shubin donaldson occupies a narrow, hillside site in santa barbara, california. designed for an industrial designer with a young family, the house is built from the top down: the main living areas are located on the third floor to offer panoramic pacific ocean views looking south and west; bedrooms are placed on the second floor; and service areas like the garage and laundry room sit on the ground floor.

all images by jeremy bittermann

constrains such as zoning requirements and neighborhood context led shubin donaldson in a unique formal solution that utilizes a concrete and steel frame to maximize the formal responsiveness of the structure. the house incorporates a central stair that cuts up through its three floors, and a skylight above it that allows plenty of natural light to enter the home.

the area’s good climate allows for the small site to be utilized to the fullest, encouraging an indoor-outdoor living style with several strategically placed patios. environmentally, the structure is cooled passively by ocean breezes and lit evenly during the day by daylight. ipe wood screens minimize sun load on the extensive view windows, while the rest of the material palette has been limited to cast concrete, steel, and glass, due to the complexity of the form.

project info:

architects: robin donaldson

partners in charge: robin donaldson, AIA

principals in charge: sieglinde pukke, AIA, leed AP

contractor: channel island construction

location: santa barbara, CA, USA