Location   Santa Cruz, California, USA

Surface area   2,500 square feet

Photographs   © www.edwardcaldwellphoto.com

	Low impact on the site
	Passive solar   Photovoltaic solar energy   CO2 low consumption
	Local materials   Recycled materials
	Natural daylight   Natural ventilation   High insulated: straw-bale walls

The owners of this home are avid surfers and teachers of biology and environmental studies who wanted to push the limits of ecology in the design of their home. At the same time, they wanted a convenient and comfortable home for their family of six, plus a second unit suitable for their elderly parents or to rent out. The result is a beautiful 2,500-square-foot house over two floors that includes four bedrooms and an office, plus a small separate unit with a bedroom and its own entrance.

The house combines cutting-edge mechanical technology with natural construction techniques, passive solar strategies, and locally sourced materials, and is designed and built at net-zero-energy cost with a minimal carbon footprint. It is a compact house with separate spaces that serve various functions, characterized by the movements and changes that occur in light and shadows through the passing of the seasons.

Open and intimate, flexible and efficient, built to a tight budget, and cheerful in its silhouette and detail, this design by Arkin Tilt Architects delivers a narrative of the specificity of the place in which it is set, reflecting the consciousness and atmosphere of the urban Santa Cruz environment.

 Inconveniences resulting from construction are minimized by using refurbished doors, windows, floating wood floors, and a wood column next to the entryway. These elements combine to add charm and character to the space.

Site and roof plan

Upper floor

Main floor

  1.  Entrance / Foyer

  2.  Kitchen

  3.  Dining room

  4.  Living room

  5.  Terrace

  6.  Outdoor shower

  7.  Bathroom

  8.  Second unit living

  9.  Bedroom

10.  Workroom / Mechanical room

11.  Hot tub

12.  Master bedroom

13.  Powder room

14.  Playspace

15.  Office

16.  Balcony

17.  Storage room

 The tall ceiling is accented with a natural strawberry tree branch, which the owners found on a friend’s property nearby.

Diagram of passive solar and natural ventilation

  1.  Summer sun

  2.  Winter sun