Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig Architects, puts his stamp atop Montecito’s Toro Canyon
Josiah Hamilton
Sophisticatedly perched high atop a hilltop in Toro Canyon on 10 landscaped acres, this 2900 square-foot Montecito modern home is perfect for the one who wants a sense of isolated privacy while enjoying the fruits of the exterior world. Built to maximize the beautiful outdoor elements of moon and sun light while allowing for a 360-degree perspective of ocean, island and mountains, this contemporary architectural aerie is encompassed in glass walls and full height sliding glass doors.
A magnificent swimmer’s pool, lush gardens and hillside terrace surround the T-shaped home marked with a 100-foot long entryway flanked by two stunning guestrooms and a garage. Beyond that sits a sleek, contemporary glass and steel box containing the living and dining rooms, three bedrooms and three and a half baths.
Well known Seattle architect Tom Kundig, of Olson Kundig Architects,designed the home. Growing up a Pacific Northwesterner, Kundig garners much of his inspiration from the outdoors, seen in his signature designs that situate homes amidst the surrounding environment in a symbiotic and seamless mesh. In 2006, Princeton Architectural Press released Tom Kundig: Houses, showcasing his sincere aesthetic and highlighting his sensitivity to land and space.
In this home, Kundig’s use of glass, steel and concrete portrays his mission to create homes that are both a shelter from the elements and a place to interact with them. A raised roof acts as a sun shield while the long central hallway creates a conduit for the peaceful breezes to pass through.
The Toro Canyon home is a design-showcase and has been featured in Architectural Digest France, Wallpaper Magazine, and the New York Times Magazine. It comes with an adjacent 5 acre legal parcel and although seemingly “away from it all”, is mere minutes from Montecito’s charming Upper Village.
