Stinson Beach House by Washington DC-based firm Wnuk Spurlock Architecture, is a smart, sustainable residence tucked into the mountainous coastline north of San Francisco. The house features sustainable products such as bamboo flooring, high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, and recyclable metal studs. A series of one-story volumes step up the mountainside and reduce the space of the building while providing a multitude of great views of the surrounding landscape.
The house is organized around a central courtyard and evokes the sense of a small, clustered village. The courtyard divides into two sections: the main residence, and the guest wing/pool house. Large operable windows, an abundance of plants, and outdoor spaces blur the line between interior and exterior and make the building blend into the natural environment.
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While the exterior is clad in a combination of natural and recycled materials and subtly shaded fiber cement panels, metal panels of copper patina and bronze-coated zinc help identify special functions within the interior.
A solar energy system and strategically placed operable windows make the house energy efficient and maximize exposure to the ocean breeze, providing a natural cooling system and eliminating the need for mechanical air conditioning systems.
