Visitors to the San Vicente house are greeted by an abstract, angular volume, sheathed in corrugated steel, which appears to float over blocks of crushed aluminum cans. Beginning as an outstretched arm towards the street and ending as a dramatic double height tower in the living room, the distinctively pitched ceilings give this house its striking silhouette, while also serving to enhance the acoustics of this music industry professional’s home office. Solar panels covering the roof will provide for 100 percent of the 3,500 sq. ft. home’s energy needs: electricity, radiant in-floor heating, and hot water for both domestic use and the outdoor lap pool. The roof panels are augmented by an innovative application of photovoltaic panels embedded in glass, used here as window glazing on the upper level of the double height living room. Sustainable measures are employed throughout, including abundant daylighting and cross ventilation, as well as environmentally-friendly finishes such as paperstone countertops, sunflower-based recycled wood cabinets, and bamboo flooring. Other special features include a climate-controlled wine room, dedicated art space, and lap pool, as well as an elevator and other thoughtful details to accommodate aging in place.
Much of the first floor exterior is clad in blocks made of recycled crushed aluminum cans. Above, the second level is clad in corrugated metal siding. A strip of clerestory window wraps the top of the first floor, making the undulating second story appear to be floating above the mass below. A number of the clerestory panels are operable along with operable skylights above, to provide ample cross ventilation along with abundant indirect daylight.
The clients desired a comfortable, sustainable home that could accommodate a home-based business in the recording industry and their many interests (wine and art collections), while planning ahead for aging in place.
Photovoltaic and hydronic solar panels cover the roof, and photovoltaics embedded in glass become an innovative window glazing on the upper level of the dramatic double-height living room. Together the home will generate 100% of its energy needs: electricity, radiant in-floor heating, domestic hot water and heating of the outdoor lap pool.
The upper level contains the master suite and a large home office for the client’s business, which deals with the recording industry. The irregular, undulating pitched roof of the second-story contributes to improved acoustics in the office, which angles out towards the street and shades the entry below.
Strategic shading and cross ventilation eliminate the need for air conditioning.
