Photo: Jean-Luc Laloux
Montecito Residence
Montecito, California
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Design Principal
Tom Kundig
The Montecito Residence is a single-family home set in fire-prone Toro Canyon near Santa Barbara. The owners wanted a house that minimized the use of scarce natural resources and that was equal to the challenging environmental conditions of the site. The design solution was to harvest and control the very climatic conditions that put the canyon so at risk for fire: sun and wind.
The house is made of simple, fire-resistant materials: concrete, steel, and glass. Exterior perforated metal screens on the west side of the house can be lowered to provide shade or additional fire protection. The steel of the siding and roof is allowed to oxidize, and the concrete is toned so that the house blends into the canyon landscape.
Upswept roof forms at the entrance and over the primary living spaces give the house its distinctive profile, while channeling rainwater for use on site. The roof functions as an umbrella to shield the house from the sun, while the 100-foot-long central hallway allows naturally cool offshore breezes to circulate.
The front door, a tall Dutch door, lets fresh air in while maintaining privacy. A system of locks, gears and chains allows the owner to determine how much the door opens. The central hallway creates an axis dividing public from private spaces: the garage, road, and entrance lie to the east; the garden, pool, guest rooms, and other living spaces lie to the west. The hallway ends in a glass and steel box turned 180 degrees to maximize the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.
The owners acquired the site because of the dramatic ocean and mountain views and the privacy afforded by the 10‑acre site. The design was a direct response to the site conditions, both the challenges and the opportunities.Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA
Team
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Design Principal
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Project Manager
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Interior Designer
Debbie Kennedy
Awards
2010
Residential Architect Design Awards, Merit Award: Custom Home Over 3,000 SF
2009
AIA National Housing Committee Awards, Housing Committee Award
Architectural Record, House of the Month
Sunset and AIA Western Home Awards, Honorable Mention: Custom Home
2008
AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Honor Awards, Honor Award
Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Awards, American Architecture Award
Northwest Design Awards, First Place: Whole House Over $400,000
2007
AIA Seattle Honor Awards, Award of Commendation
Publications
2018
Gonchar, Joann. “Out of the Ashes.” Architectural Record, 1 April. 2018, 125-128. Print.
2012
Shevory, Kristina. “The New Icons: Montecito Residence.” California Home + Design, May 2012. Web.
2010
Tapper, Joan. “Sky Scraper.” Santa Barbara Magazine, April 2010, 96-107. Print. Web.
Weber, Cheryl. “Residential Architect Design Awards 10: Montecito Residence.” Residential Architect, May 2010, 45. Print.
2008
“Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects: Montecito Residence.” A+U 458 08:11 Dwelling and the Land, Nov. 2008, 56-59. Print.
Viladas, Pilar. “Angle of Repose.” The New York Times, 15 June 2008, 58-63. Print.
Viladas, Pilar. “Les Ailes du Repos.” AD France, Dec. 2008, 156-163. Print.
