This contemporary residence was designed by Jan Hochhauser of Hochhauser Blatter Architecture in Santa Barbara. The house serves a very important role in local history as having perhaps the first ‘green roof’ in the entire Santa Barbara area. Local landscape architect team, Van Atta Associates, Inc. won a Landscape Design Award for the completion of this roof along with the property’s water conserving landscape in 1995.
This 5,400sq. ft. residence is carefully designed to integrate its playful volumes into the surrounding Montecito hillside. Designed to entertain many guests there is a carefully composed flow of indoor/outdoor spatial relationships. Earthen roofs are employed to maximize usable outdoor space and give the design a most pleasing visual aspect from every vantage point.
Hochhauser Blatter Architecture
The intention behind this roof was to make the house a part of its surroundings, by turning architecture into garden, and the intention behind the planting and hard-scape was to create beauty by emphasizing the best qualities of the surrounding natural vegetation and stone. This approach resulted in environmental benefits as well. Near the house, a native ferny seep in the shade, and a garden inspired by surrounding coastal sage scrub in the sun (planted with white sage, buckwheat and chalk Dudleya) provide a low maintenance and welcoming entrance. A Mediterranean Walk, shaded by olives, scented by Lavender, and constructed of stone from onsite, connects the main house with the artist studio. All of the property is accessible thanks to a loop trail of switchbacks and carved steps that weave through the chaparral, with a natural Stone Gazebo as a destination point. For privacy, a woodland of fast-growing native trees and shrubs was planted at the beginning of house construction. We love both the interplay and the contrast between the native California vegetation and this refined modern home.
Van Atta Associates, Inc.
The Park Lane estate is currently listed with Gary Goldberg of Coastal Properties at $ 11,750,000.
If you have any questions regarding this property or others in the Santa Barbara/Montecito area contact Josiah Hamilton at (805) 284-8835 or email Josiah@thehamiltonco.com.
