Knoll Residence in Big Sur, CA: Surf the Waves from Your Kitchen
Written by Jennifer Heyns
A creatively designed structure, the Knoll Residence in Big Sur, California is both intriguing and whimsical when viewed head-on. Take a glimpse from any other angle, however, and what you don’t see and what you do will take your breath away.
Designed by Sagan Piechota Architecture of San Francisco, the house is a series of arches and straight lines arranged to mirror the landscape. The copper roof sections are arched to resemble the gentle sweep of the mountains off in the rear distance. The vertical borders of the chimney are a clear interruption of the serene setting, while the same angles found in the home’s support beams blend so seamlessly with the nearby trees.
Perhaps the most compelling feature of the house, however, is its ability to disappear almost completely. Providing a virtual invisibility cloak, the architects incorporated see-through views of the entire landscape via glass paneled walls on opposite sides.
The result? Show-stopping vistas of the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other. When looking at the peaks, you see the lush landscape and feel the constancy of Mother Earth. The opposing view, however, will have you scrambling for your sea legs as it appears that you are indeed floating out in the serenity of the gently rippling ocean.
As difficult as it is to believe, the true genius of good architecture is its ability to completely escape your mind as you connect with nature in a way you wouldn’t think possible, all while enjoying the comforts of a manmade home. It’s like a good makeup artist who knows that the best job they can do is to bring out a woman’s inner beauty, as opposed to covering it up. This is what architecture is meant to be.
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