sky-frame presents montalba’s surf-inspired architectural retreat

sky-frame’s ‘my poINT of view’ video on the graoni beach house

As part of Sky-Frame‘s ‘My Point of View’ video series, David Montalba delves into the profound connection between nature and architecture, drawing on his experiences as a surfer for the Graoni Beach House in Malibu, California. As a Swiss-American architect, Montalba’s passion for surfing during his teenage years imbued him with a deep spiritual connection to nature, spreading to his architectural work, where he strives to create spaces that evoke emotional responses and connect occupants to their home and surroundings.

‘[Surfing] brought a kind of spirituality to my life. That was when I felt most connected to nature and I was truly with myself… It’s still a really special thing for me,’ architect David Montalba reflects.

Sky-Frame presents David Montalba’s surf-inspired architectural retreat in Malibu

all images courtesy of Sky Frame

how david montalba harmonizes architecture with nature

Before founding Montalba Architects, David Montalba worked with renowned architects such as Frank Gehry, Rios Clementi Hale, and Brooks and Scarpa. His firm, with offices in Santa Monica, New York, and Lausanne, focuses on uncovering ideas and processes embedded in project contexts to create new forms of expression through space and scale. His design philosophy perfectly aligns with Sky-Frame’s mission to blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

Sky-Frame products feature in several thousand properties across all continents and have won numerous design and business awards. With their frameless sliding windows and doors, the Swiss company combines technical, architectural, and spatial design expertise to create free-flowing transitions, integrating solutions like photovoltaic systems and vegetation-based shading to preserve resources and energy.

as part of the ‘My Point of View’ video series, David Montalba delves into the profound connection between nature and architecture

from intimate entryways to expansive ocean views

Upon entering the house, a compressed entryway opens up to a spacious living room, dining room, and kitchen area. Horizontally framed ocean views are revealed through expansive Sky-Frame doors, which seem to disappear to extend the living space onto a metal-edged balcony. A heavy stone fireplace, which partially obstructs the ocean view, adds a sense of primeval heft and serves as a focal point that merges informal craftsmanship with precise detailing. Montalba describes it as ‘a very monolithic element’ that makes a strong architectural statement, contrasting with typical expectations of a beachside house.

the Graoni Beach House in Malibu captures the interplay between land and sea, reflecting the freedom Montalba felt as a surfer

In the serene living room of the Graoni Beach House in Malibu, the architect emphasizes the importance of curating an emotional response through architecture. The house, clad in black Shou Sugi Ban planks and raised on pillars above the beach, embodies the balance between the solidity of its structure and the fluidity of the surrounding landscape. The design recreates the feeling Montalba experienced as a surfer, being both free and embraced by water, land and the coast.

the architect strives to create spaces that evoke emotional responses and connect occupants to their surroundings

Inside, the home harmonizes disparate materials and textures, creating a welcoming and balanced environment. Exposed, sandblasted fir and oak beams stretch the interior, while douglas fir floorboards, warmed by radiant heat, and a long marble kitchen island anchor the space, adding to the home’s warmth and peacefulness.

It’s much like the ocean and the sand and the rocks have these contrasting textures and feelings that really tie together. It’s very much about listening to the site.’ says the architect, as he likens the home’s design to the natural landscape.

the episode emphasizes the importance of curating an emotional response through architecture

The architect’s approach to architecture is also influenced by his time in Switzerland, where natural materials and craftsmanship are deeply valued. ‘In Switzerland, there’s much more of a tradition of apprenticing to a craft, and I think that’s something we need more of here,’ he notes. The handcrafted stone and extensive wood surfaces in the Malibu home bring casualness and authenticity, celebrating the imperfection of natural materials and the nuanced textures and tones they offer.

On the second floor of the Graoni Beach House, the design continues to shine with wide views of the ocean that are amplified by oversized terraces, inviting inhabitants to immerse themselves in the coastal panorama. The master bath, strategically positioned to overlook the bluff, offers a serene retreat amidst rocks, lichen, and cypress, blending indoor comfort with the sights and sounds of nature.

the Graoni Beach House is designed to be a peaceful, meditative retreat

The Graoni Beach House is designed to be a peaceful, meditative retreat that grounds its occupants in their environment. ‘You can’t help but recharge when you’re here. You hear the waves. You feel the spaces, and the site, enveloping you,’ says the designer. This blend of serenity and vigor, enclosed and exposed space, and muted tones with strong textures showcases how architecture can frame one’s life, creating spaces that inspire and connect us to the natural world.

‘We’re creating a framework for our clients,’ says Montalba. ‘A canvas for life.’

the bathroom offers a serene retreat amidst rocks, lichen, and cypress