balboa-beach-house: Balboa Beach House, Newport Beach, California, USA
Designed 1988
The 4,400 square foot house takes advantage of an adjacent landscape public way to open a 40-foot x 80-foot ocean front lot to views of the beach. The house, set on a poured-in-place concrete base, encloses a basement garage on the alley side and opens to the beach side on grade. A slate covered shallow pool and waterfall separate the interior from the public beach while keeping the views open to the ocean beyond and allowing shimmering light to be reflected deep into the house.
The house is approached along a limestone clad garden wall and entered through a stainless steel gate into a patio area. The main level patios are extensions of the interior living spaces, separated only by sliding glass doors which, when fully stacked, leave corners and walls open. Floor-to-ceiling glass and glass block walls within a painted steel frame allow natural light to illuminate the house. Glass is also used for guardrails and some interior wall finishes to help complete the feeling of a glass house. Sandblasted glass block overhanging balconies and sundeck over the entry allow diffused light below while providing exterior areas off the second level bedrooms. Painted steel trellises break light into small patches over the patios and bedroom walls.
The main door, in stainless steel, is entered underneath the sundeck and opens to a view of a limestone clad steel stair. The stair is wrapped with curved glass in a sandblasted pattern and connects all three levels of the house. French limestone on the floor, the stairs, the living room wall, the benches, and the pools visually unites the house with the sand of the beach. Stainless steel and white lacquer finished wood is used for casework and doors throughout. The house's five bathrooms feature stainless steel or limestone vanities and coloured spandrel glass or mirror clad walls. Painted smooth finish gypsum board ceilings house recessed lighting, sun control blinds and audio-visual equipment.
Photo by Tim Street-Porter
