Zak Architecture

Seven independent buildings are arranged on this dogleg shaped site to create a sequence of four spatial experiences. Welcomed by the auto courtyard, one is invited to explore beyond the garden gates. Through these gates lies the inner garden, loosely formed by the surrounding bedroom pavilions. From here one is drawn into the spacious great room. This communal living space spills out onto a wide lawn, the elliptical pool and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Giving the house a sense of warmth and permanence are Chinese slate floors, integral colored plaster walls, Western Red Cedar ceilings and Teak doors and windows.

Stone House is designed as a collection of intricately assembled stone boxes arranged on the site to create a sense of intimacy with the beach, ocean and warm pacific air. The individual pavilions are floating roofs where the movable walls can be retracted into pockets. Buildings are placed on the site to take best advantage of views while creating intimate garden settings between them. The sequence through the entry courtyard begins with angular juxtaposition and is completed by the full landscape palate. Moving through the main pavilion and arriving at the ocean side garden one is aware of a calm minimalism and the extension of view to the horizon.

Cluster House is designed as an intimate residential village. Acknowledging the ocean view, the site plan resembles a school of fish. In response to the Hawaiian climate, the project is separated into seven individual living pavilions clustered together on the site, thus creating an immediate connection with the garden, sunlight, and always-welcome trade winds. The primary living pavilion is the center of the composition and is set apart from the other structures by its use of black stonewalls and cedar truss roof. Each pavilion is placed not next to, but rather in the landscape and hallways are replaced by a walk through the garden.

Courtyard House is designed as a collection of individual pavilions arranged around a central garden courtyard. The Balinese influence of the house is a response to the owner’s passion for, and their collection of furniture and artifacts from, Bali. The courtyard acts as both a cloistered entry garden that leads to the main house and as a contemplative place that the house and guest pavilions open onto. Moving through the house one arrives at the main living lanai. From here the view extends across the reflecting pool, to the natural ponds, the beach and finally to the Pacific Ocean beyond.

Garden Pavilion is designed as a retreat and gathering place for a property with an 1890s colonial revival primary residence. As viewed from the main house the lodge acts both as a focal point at the far end of the garden as well as the enclosing edge of the property. The lodge and the accompanying spa pavilion center on an elliptical reflecting pool. Classical formality and symmetry are used in response to the vocabulary of the main house. A spatial composition of three gabled volumes connected together, form an H-shaped plan for the lodge. These spaces open onto the stone terrace that steps down to the pool and garden lawn.

Vineyard House is designed as a vineyard property and family retreat. The design creates two primary exterior spatial experiences. The first is the long drive that travels along rolling California terrain, arriving at the entry courtyard defined by the barn and the ranch house. Moving through the house to the main terrace, the second spatial experience is revealed. A large grassy area is the central gathering place for the ranch and is defined by the ranch house, guest-house, pool house and lake. The north-facing slope on the other side of the Anderson Valley is seen beyond the lake completing the composition.

Beach House is designed to organize the site into two primary garden spaces and to have the house, in turn, open freely out to them. Residents and visitors are welcomed and embraced by the entry garden that is contained on all four sides and is defined above by a tree canopy. The ocean side garden, in contrast, is a wide lawn punctuated with tall coconut palms around a central reflection pool. This minimalist garden evokes a sense of calm and emphasizes the surreal view of the beach, ocean and the neighboring island beyond. Glass walls of the house recess into pockets creating an intimate experience with the garden, the view and the ocean breeze.

Hillside House is designed as an extension of a 1890s wood barn that exists on the north facing hillside property. The barn was renovated to create livable space and its architectural character provides the language for the new six-bedroom residence. The house organizes the site into two primary exterior garden experiences. The first is the entry courtyard defined by the barn and the formal front elevation of the house. The second is the lower, more private, garden accessed through the entry porte-cochere. The main living spaces of the house open onto the curvilinear stone terrace that looks over and leads to the lower garden.

Corner House is designed as a contextual response to the neighboring residences and to emphasize the garden area of the property. The front elevation is organized to reduce the perceived size of the house and to continue the architectural rhythm of the cottage-lined street. The house is positioned at the front corner of the site to create a large private garden area in the rear. The L-shaped plan frames the property while allowing the main living areas to open onto a stone terrace. The terrace steps down to the lawn and pool area that is bordered by an English rose garden, thus completing the frame.

Feature article of Zak Architecture's Cluster House: "Hawaii Distilled"