John Ellis
Feature: The House on the Strand
July 1, 2007
The Villa Savoye’s white concrete exteriors would never hold up in what
Schultz describes as a "fairly brutal" oceanfront environment. Nor did the
architects want such an austere look for their outdoorsy client. "The materials
were a key ingredient to all," Schultz explains. In addition to smooth white
concrete, the exterior boasts marine-grade stainless steel and Texas limestone,
giving the home its own identity and the benefit of texture. "When we started
bringing in stone elements and natural wood, we got away from the machine approach that characterized the ’20s
modern movement and gave Christie a house that was a bit warmer than a strictly
white-box modern," says Schultz.
Borrowing from later modernists of the mid 20th century, the
architects continued the limestone from exterior to interior, where it becomes
the foundation for a bi-level Australian walnut bookcase. The bookcase serves
many functions, in addition to its most practical use of providing storage and
display areas. On the first level, it screens the entrance from the living room,
"but still allows peek-a-boo views of ocean," says Schultz. In the living room,
the bookcase becomes the main architectural feature and then twists around and
serves as the backbone of the office.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Maritime mementos adorn the bedroom. (Click image to enlarge)
Australian walnut bookcases are also a fixture in the master
bedroom, where they line a wall and the edge of a raised platform that elevates
the bed, providing a better ocean view and more privacy. In addition to their
architectural function, the shelves gave Peck a place to display the ship and
surfing memorabilia she collects, from coffee-table books on ocean liners to
vintage surfboards.
Throughout, the architects chose low-maintenance, high-end
materials in a marine palette of subtle blues, greens and grays. The floors are
bamboo, a silver-gray Brazilian slate or concrete. The large pieces of rock in
the Jurassic granite on the kitchen countertops is evocative of the beach.
Blue-veined lapis lines the countertops in the office and master bedroom. "It’s
all really easy to take care of," Peck says, which is even more important when
she is visited by her 10 nieces and nephews, who live nearby.
The house is raised, heightening one’s perspective while
looking out at the ocean and adding privacy to what would have been a house
directly on the beach. The only thing that stands between the home and tide is a
five-foot boardwalk. "This house takes such great advantage of this location,"
Peck says. "When I open all the drapes it’s almost as if I’m outside."
Peck’s everyday view of the Queen Mary is supplemented by the
maritime activity of one of Southern California’s busiest ports. "I used to wake
up at 5:00 a.m. and drive to watch the cruise ships
come in," she says. "Now I can see them from my house."
Because of the home’s prominent beachfront location, it has
garnered a lot of attention. "It became the talk of the town," she says.
"Everybody was so interested." As a result, Peck, a self-described hermit who is
a freelance writer and community volunteer, suddenly found herself thrust into
the spotlight. She embraced this by opening the doors of her house for several
fundraisers. "The house has made me more of a people person, which is good," she
says. "It’s nice that I can help people by loaning out my house."
Laidlaw Schultz Architects
949.645.9982
www.lsarchitects.com
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