Norm Applebaum Architect AIA

Suncatch

Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols

SUNCATCH

Norm Applebaum Architect

ARCHITECTS
Norm Applebaum Architect

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Stedman & Dyson

MANUFACTURERS
Sub-Zero, Dixieline, Valli & Valli

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Lang Contracting

PHOTOGRAPHS
Mary E. Nichols, Paul Barnett

AREA
54000.0 ft²

YEAR
2005

LOCATION
Rancho Santa Fe, United States

CATEGORY
Houses, Houses Interiors

The architecture of “Suncatch" came about after an 8 year design and construction process. It sits on 30 acres in the prestigious area known as Rancho Santa Fe in Southern California.

Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols
Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols

The project consists of 54,000 square feet of floor space divided as follows, 24,500 square feet of living space and 29,500 square feet for a 37 car showroom under the house. It was completed in 2005.

The architect’s client stated that he wanted the finest house in the region.

The home is finished out using a half million board feet of clear vertical grain Douglas fir, floors, ceilings, cabinets, doors, fascia and all trim.

Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols
Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols
Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols

Plaster walls and poured in place concrete, using a veneer system invented by the architect, are the finish materials.

Views were to north but large overhangs were used to capture the south sun, this in turn brightens up the interior spaces of the architecture.

Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols
Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols

The roads are finished in hand cut Porphyry stone. One drives through and below the swimming pool before reaching the entry parking.

To experience the leaded glass entry and leaded art glass throughout the house designed by the architect is truly amazing. The architecture was designed by model only, no 2-dimensional drawings were used.

Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols
Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols

This gave the architect time to study each space and learn what the scale should be for each room in the house. Working drawings were created after scaling all spaces from the study model.

Stated in 2005, "This house is one of the greatest pieces of architecture of the 21st Century”, according to the late Julius Shulman, famed architectural photographer.

Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols


Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols
Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols
Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols


Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols
Suncatch
© Mary E. Nichols


Suncatch
Floor Plan
Suncatch
Section

Norm Applebaum Architect AIA
T +1 619 4654102
Norm Applebaum Architect AIA
9830 Edgelake Dr, La Mesa, CA 91941, United States