Project Description
2015 Residential Architect Design Awards
On the Boards
Award
Intended as a rental property to generate supplementary income for the client, this tiny Heceta Beach house on the Oregon coast, designed by Santa Monica, Calif.–based Steven Christensen Architecture, is to be built on an old foundation so as to take advantage of a loophole in local zoning code restrictions: The owners were allowed to rebuild as long as they used the original 195-square-foot foundation. The resulting design is a faceted mini-tower that expands as it rises to increase floor space; it is clad entirely in standing-seam white metal roofing interrupted only by large, black-framed windows that allow ocean views out and daylight into the compact interior. The three-level house has one bedroom and bathroom on the lower level, living areas above that, and another bedroom and bathroom on the top floor, all tucked into a total of 800 square feet. The minimal interior is clad entirely in plywood with simple built-ins and off-the-shelf fixtures adding to the practical ethos of beach house living while streamlining the project’s budget. —Alan G. Brake
From the Jury
Project Credits
Project Size: 800 square feet
Construction Cost: $150 per square foot