Dune House

Dune House
© Paul Dyer

DUNE HOUSE

Cass Calder Smith Architecture + Interiors

CATEGORY
Houses

LOCATION
Stinson Beach, United States

AREA
2100 ft²

YEAR
2020

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Bjorn Steudte

PHOTOGRAPHS
Paul Dyer

MANUFACTURERS
Benjamin Moore, Fleetwood, Hakwood, Henrybuilt, Accyoa, Ipe decking, Velux

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
John Yadegar & Associates

PHOTOGRAPHY
Paul Dyer

CONTRACTORS
Allen Construction

LANDSCAPING
Las Baulines Nursery

INTERIOR DESIGNER
StudioM

DESIGN PRINCIPAL
Cass Calder Smith

Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer

This new house located on the lagoon within the community of Seadrift in Stinson Beach is for owners with two teenage children. As a 2,100 square-foot weekend house, it is meant as a family gathering place for casual dwelling, recreating, entertaining, and connecting with nature.

Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer

From the street, the breezeway establishes a sense of entry and also a departure from the weekly pressures of deadlines and toil - to the sacred from the mundane. The shape of the house and the location of spaces maximize indoor-outdoor connections in two directions.

To the north, the rooms aim towards the water and the mountain beyond. The upper deck seamlessly connects to the inside and terraces down to the lagoon deck, creating two places to enjoy. The lower deck and floating dock mainly serve the launching of boats and boards and have a firepit and jacuzzi to further enjoy being near the water.

Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer

To the south of the main living area is a three-sided courtyard planned as an outdoor room with views to the west and back through the house. Connections to the outdoors are established through expanses of sliding glass doors that open wide, resulting in the home being very see-through and filled with exquisite Northern California natural light.

Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer

Long skylights along the living room and kitchen walls bring in additional light, which balances the sources with both horizontal and vertical. Ceiling heights are modulated based on the hierarchy of spaces, hence highest for maximum spaciousness at the waterside living areas and master bedroom.

The kitchen, dining, and living room are open and connected as a 'free plan,' while the bedrooms and family room are zoned to one side and distinctly connected with their own hallway. Aside from the master bedroom, there is a guest bedroom and a bunk room for the kids, which can sleep seven.

Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer

At the end of the hall is a sofa-centric family room for watching TV, playing games, and overflow sleepovers. Oriented to the south and north, it intentionally has light and views in two directions.

The house's exterior is horizontal wood siding painted white, which is a reference to beach houses that have traditionally been white. The color also fully renders the form of the house in the natural light.

White walls set against dark-framed windows evoke a distinctly modern appearance. A multi-leveled flat roof establishes a sense of casual modernism with calm, clean lines and simple sculpted forms.

Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer

Key materials include concrete floors with radiant heat, painted sheetrock walls, and wood ceilings.

The kitchen is custom by Henrybuilt, and the living room seating is custom-designed to fit the space, make the most of the views, and draw the family together.

Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer


Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer
Dune House
© Paul Dyer

Dune House
© Paul Dyer


Dune House
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Dune House
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Dune House
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Dune House
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Dune House
Plan

Dune House
Sustainability Diagram