Photography by Joe Fletcher
In Northern Big Sur, along the dramatic California coastline, Studio Schicketanz designed a home that feels almost absorbed into the hillside itself. The property stretches from Highway One to Malpaso Creek, giving the house sweeping views across the Pacific Ocean while surrounding it with rugged natural terrain.
The design is made up of interconnected pavilion-style volumes that step into the slope of the land. From a distance, the home appears understated, with green roofs continuing the line of the hillside and helping the architecture visually merge with the landscape. Instead of competing with the scenery, the materials pull directly from it.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
A Hillside Exterior Built From Stone and Earth-Toned Concrete
The exterior combines local granite stone walls with concrete finished in warm earth-tone colors. Together, the materials give the house a rugged appearance that matches the cliffs and rocky coastline nearby.
Large expanses of floor-to-ceiling glass line both sides of the home, opening the interiors to ocean air, sunlight, and uninterrupted coastal views. Sliding glass walls erase the boundary between indoors and outdoors, allowing the living spaces to extend directly toward terraces and the swimming pool.
The layout also helps protect the home from the strong Pacific winds. While the ocean-facing side remains completely open, the design folds inward around a sheltered courtyard hidden at the rear of the house.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The Hidden Patio Sheltered Behind Stone Walls
One of the most unexpected parts of the home is the private inner patio tucked behind the main living spaces. Hidden from the ocean side, the courtyard feels warm and protected, surrounded by textured stone walls that create a dramatic backdrop.
A curved concrete wall with built-in seating wraps around the space, forming a natural gathering area beside the fire pit. Desert plants soften the hard materials and add sculptural shapes throughout the garden.
The contrast between the exposed oceanfront side of the house and this enclosed courtyard gives the home two completely different moods. One side embraces expansive coastal views, while the other offers a quieter outdoor area shielded from the cool winds coming off the Pacific.
Photography by Tim Griffith (top image) and Joe Fletcher (bottom image)
Interiors Filled With Texture, Light, and Color
Inside, the home balances crisp modern architecture with warmer finishes and handcrafted details. Custom blend mosaic walls introduce subtle color throughout the interiors, while Venetian plaster accent walls add texture and softness.
Wood ceilings bring warmth into the otherwise minimal spaces and help connect the rooms to the natural tones used outside.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The open-plan living room, dining area, and kitchen form one large shared space positioned directly between the outdoor areas. With sliding walls opening on both sides, the interior can feel completely exposed to the surrounding landscape and ocean views.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
Stone Walls Continue Into the Hallways
The granite walls used on the exterior continue inside the home, especially throughout the hallways and transition spaces. Bringing the stone indoors gives the interiors more depth and creates a strong visual connection between the architecture and the rugged coastal terrain outside.
The texture of the stone contrasts with the smooth plaster walls and expansive glass surfaces, helping the circulation spaces feel more atmospheric and grounded.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
A Calm Bedroom and Bathroom With Sculptural Details
The main bedroom continues the home’s modern yet comfortable aesthetic. Soft textures and a large rug introduce warmth and color, while the restrained material palette keeps the room feeling calm and uncluttered.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
In the en-suite bathroom, a freestanding bathtub sits beneath a circular skylight that draws natural light into the space from above. Wood flooring softens the room and adds warmth against the stone and plaster finishes.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The home also includes an outdoor shower concealed within its own stone-walled enclosure, creating a private space that still feels connected to the outdoors.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
This home by Studio Schicketanz shows how modern architecture can work with the dramatic conditions of the California coast without losing warmth or comfort. From the stone walls and green roofs to the hidden courtyard and fully opening glass walls, every part of the design responds to the landscape in a different way while still creating inviting spaces to live in.