moana

santa cruz, california + 2,800 square feet
architect | fuse architects inc.
contractor/owner builder | Jan Mad Construction
details | cedar ipe, integral color stucco, birch ply, bamboo flooring
photography | interface visual

This home receives a lot of public attention due to its modern style and proximity to a very popular surf spot. Our clients, a family of six, have been friends with the Dans since long before this design project was undertaken. They are a very active family and wanted the home to reflect their love for surfing and the beach lifestyle. One unique feature of this home is the loft area above the kitchen. A neighborhood ordinance dictated a two story limit for houses, and this loft would have pushed the structure above the height limit. To surmount this challenge the kitchen was designed to be a sunken volume, allowing the height to stand within acceptable guidelines. An appearance of floating was given to the family loft when it was viewed from the main living space. In another coup of organization and management, the husband and wife clients decided to team up and tackle the formidable job of being general contractors for the entire project. With the highest optimism and zero experience they dove into the job with gusto. They also picked up much of the trade work including finishes, cabinet making and countertop fabricating, just to name a few. We were fortunate to work with them throughout the design and building processes as we customized many of the details out in the field. The architects and the family couldn’t be happier with the outcome.