Montecito Residence by Olson Kundig Architects (30+ Photos)

Montecito Residence by Olson Kundig

Take a look at this new concrete, glass and steel home; the Montecito Residence by Olson Kundig Architects. It’s no secret I’m an ardent fan of the Seattle-based architecture firm having previously shared with you five other properties of theirs: Studhorse House, Chicken Point Cabin, Birkshire Residence, The Brain and Pavilion House.

Montecito Residence by Olson Kundig Architects

Montecito Residence by Olson Kundig Architects

The recently completed Montecito Residence, a glass, concrete and steel home near Santa Barbara is yet another private residence that features several of Tom Kundig’s signature architectural devices: pulley systems open and close the large glass walls and windows, unusual industrial locking systems for the doors and jutting roof overhangs. Like Olson Kundig’s previous homes, the firm takes the environment into consideration, creating a stand-out building that paradoxically, blends into its surroundings.

the following text is courtesy of the architect
The Montecito Residence is a single-family home set in fire-prone Toro Canyon near Santa Barbara. The owners wanted a house that minimized the use of scarce natural resources and that was equal to the challenging environmental conditions of the site. The design solution was to harvest and control the very climatic conditions that put the canyon so at risk for fire: the sun and the wind.

The house is made of simple, fire-resistant materials: concrete, steel, and glass. Exterior perforated metal screens on the west side of the house can be lowered to provide shade or additional fire protection. The steel of the siding and roof is allowed to oxidize, and the concrete is toned so that the house blends into the canyon landscape.

Upswept roof forms at the entrance and over the primary living spaces give the house its distinctive profile, while channeling rainwater for use on site.

The roof functions as an umbrella to shield the house from the sun, while the one-hundred-foot-long central hallway allows naturally cool offshore breezes to circulate.

The owners acquired the site because of the dramatic ocean and mountain views and the privacy afforded by the 10-acre site. The design was a direct response to the site conditions, both the challenges and the opportunities.

The front door, a tall Dutch door, lets fresh air in while maintaining privacy.

A system of locks, gears, and chains allows the owner to determine how much the Dutch door opens.

The central hallway creates an axis dividing public from private spaces: the garage, road, and entrance lie to the east; the garden, pool, guest rooms, and other living spaces lie to the west.

The hallway ends in a glass and steel box turned 180 degrees to maximize the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

“We saw our job as healing the site, so for the most part the landscape was restored to a natural state.” – Tom Kundig Design Principal

images courtesy of the following photographers: Nikolas Koenig, Tim Bies, Jean-Luc Laloux and Archello

Montecito Residence – Tom Kundig / Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects

Olson Kundig Architects