Architects: Anacapa Architecture
Area: 1,800 ft²
Year: 2017
Photographs: Erin Feinblatt, Mike Kelley
Architecture: Anacapa Architecture in collaboration with Willson Design
Lead Architects: Dan Weber
Interior Design: Jessica Helgerson Interior Design
Builder: Curtis Homes
Landscape Designer: Danielle Gaston
Structural Engineer: Ashley & Vance Engineering
Civil Engineer: Braun & Associates
City: Santa Barbara, Central Coast California
Country: United States
Off-Grid Guest House, a residential building designed by Anacapa Architecture in collaboration with Willson Design on the Central Coast, California, harmonizes residential development with ecological preservation. The 1,800-square-foot guest house, located on a wildlife preserve, features a low profile and green roof, offering panoramic views while minimizing environmental impact. Completed by Anacapa’s design team and various collaborators in 2017, it is entirely off-grid, powered by a photovoltaic energy system, with sustainable features like LED lighting, low-usage appliances, and a green roof.
Off-Grid Guest House, located on one of California’s last remaining undeveloped coastal areas, exemplifies a successful balance between residential development and ecological preservation. Situated on a wildlife preserve, the modern guest house was designed with the primary goal of preserving and protecting the natural environment. The 1,800-square-foot residence, nestled into a steep hillside, has a minimal visual and environmental impact on the surrounding landscape. Its low profile and green roof help blend the home into its surroundings, offering nearly 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding rolling hills through generous sliding glass doors and expansive decks that cantilever over the steep cliff face, providing direct views of the canyon below.
Dan Weber, the architect, notes, “Since the structure is located on a ridge top, it’s visible from a distance. We didn’t want it to stand out or draw attention. We aimed for it to have the smallest possible impact on the natural environment and improve the ecological integrity of the property rather than degrade it further.”
The house, designed like a glass peninsula with three-way operable glass walls, blurs the line between built and unbuilt environments, inviting various ocean and canyon vistas. Constructed from elemental materials like steel, concrete, and glass, the house integrates seamlessly with the landscape and will naturally weather and patina over time. Rich walnut accents and custom fixtures and furnishings by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design add warmth and character to the space.
A high level of sensitivity to environmental impacts was exercised throughout all phases of design and construction. Anacapa and Willson Design employed green building practices, resulting in sustainable systems and material selection.
Both the guest house and the owner’s nearby main residence are entirely off-grid due to the lack of available electricity in this remote area. The home is powered by a photovoltaic energy system. LED lighting and low-usage appliances reduce energy demands. The home features a private well and water treatment system; wastewater is directed to a septic tank and dry well. A combination of radiant floor heating, cross ventilation from the operable sliding glass, and an insulating green roof regulates interior temperatures. The green roof also helps the home blend into the landscape and conserve water. The design includes a detached garage, discreetly built into the hillside.
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Project Location
Address: Santa Barbara, Central Coast California, United States
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
