Mal Paso Residence

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the Nature Conservancy put up for sale three contiguous parcels of land in Northern Big Sur, featuring a breathtaking view of the Big Sur coastline. This property, stretching from Highway One to Malpaso Creek, was the site our clients brought to Studio Schicketanz to design a brand-new home, for them equating to an intimate space that at once showcases its surroundings and becomes a part of them. The design comprises four interconnected pavilions, variously angled and each containing different functions, forming a compound built into the hillside, allowing the natural landscape to flow onto the lush green roof. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows line both the East and West walls, flooding the home with fresh air and morning light and offering an unobstructed view of the ocean. At once crisp and warm, the home ultimately turns back in, toward the central courtyard area that offers a warm, sunny shelter from the strong and cool winds of the Pacific Ocean.