PROJECT INFORMATION
TYPE: RESIDENTIAL
SIZE: 14,000 SQ FT
LOCATION: PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
STATUS: PERMITTING
PROJECT TEAM: COLBY MAYES, TIM WALSH, TREVOR KIDD, ERIC STEPHENS
COLLABORATORS: DEMOS DEVELOPMENT (DEVELOPER), WORKPOINT ENGINEERING (STRUCTURAL), VCA ENGINEERS INC. (CIVIL), CREST REAL ESTATE (LAND USE CONSULTANTS)
Sculpted into the steep terrain of Pacific Palisades, this residence is a study in site-responsive design. Positioned along the bluff’s edge, the home displays panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains while remaining visually unobtrusive from Pacific Coast Highway and the beach below.
The design is deeply rooted in the topography, employing a carved, terraced foundation that stabilizes the landslide-prone hillside while reinforcing the surrounding properties. This intervention not only anchors the home into the landscape but also minimizes site disturbance, allowing the architecture to emerge as an extension of the terrain rather than an imposition upon it.
The massing is deliberately fragmented into two offset volumes, separated by a central void that serves as both a light well and a spatial break to mitigate the perceived scale. This interstitial space enhances natural ventilation, frames ocean views, and establishes a dynamic contrast between solid and void. Above, undulating rooflines respond to the rolling mountain terrain, their stepped planes reinforcing a streamlined horizontality that harmonizes with the site’s contours.
At the ground plane, a circular driveway orchestrates the arrival sequence, leading to a discreetly integrated garage beneath one volume, while the opposite side unfolds into a landscaped forecourt, offering a counterbalance of open space. The materiality is driven by resilience and sustainability—the home is LEED-certified, constructed with fire-resistant materials, and employs passive design strategies to optimize thermal performance.
This Pacific Palisades residence is an design expression of restraint and responsiveness, where form, function, and environmental integration converge to create a refined coastal sanctuary.
