Ember

This single-storey private residence occupies the threshold between a stand of new-growth pines and an expansive dunescape. In response to the open, windswept site, the building is conceived conceptually as a single monolithic stratum, pushed low to the ground and hovering just above the surface of the sands. Beneath this monolithic plane, a private refuge forms in the compressed space between mass and earth. The interior regularity contrasts the curving dunes among which the building floats. Its materials throughout reflect the wood, sand, and stone that are the foundation of the wooded coastline. Heavy interior walls establish a haven within the seascape, while the light glass exterior allows for almost complete integration between interior and exterior and uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean. The primary living and private areas are surrounded by exterior courtyards, lightwells, and introspective spaces.