See-Through House

See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier

SEE-THROUGH HOUSE

Koning Eizenberg Architecture

LEAD ARCHITECT
Julie Eizenberg

MANUFACTURERS
Abet Laminati, Benjamin Moore, Fsb Franz Schneider Brakel, Grohe, Hakatai, Miele, Montigo, Nora, Plazit-polygal, Amkel, Arcadia Custom, Dex Otex, Elite Wood Floors

AREA
3100 FT²

CATEGORY
Houses

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
Santa Monica, United States

Text description provided by architect.

This suburban home, designed for a Planning Commissioner and her family, offers a relaxed connection to the street and provides an amplified perception of space on a typical 50’x 150’ lot by organizing expansive views through the length of the house.

See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier
See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier

A barn-shaped roof emerged from tracing the maximum permitted planning envelope, producing a chance rural reference that fits both the family’s background and interest in the informal, modest and communal.

A Quaker bonnet, seen in an old family portrait, inspired the shaping of the guesthouse roof, which backdrops the series of indoor and outdoor spaces. Movable privacy/sun control screens between house and yard modify views inside and out at different times of the day.

See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier
See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier

SUSTAINABILITY

Built to comply with both strict Santa Monica standards and the architects' and owners' dedication to responsible design, See-Through House employs efficient and sustainable strategies for energy production and consumption, daylighting, airflow and water usage.

Photovoltaic panels line the south-facing roof at an optimized angle. Daylighting from skylights combined with vast, high energy performance glazing alleviates the need for artificial daytime lighting and LED lighting systems to provide energy efficient evening light.

See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier
See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier

Sliding oversized wooden panels on the west face of the house and eastern balcony provide passive shading to reduce solar gain while allowing ventilation.

Ventilation panels installed throughout the house further passive ventilation, while operable skylights on the second-floor discharge hot air to complement this system.

See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier
See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier

Slab on grade construction further enhances cooling efficiency through natural geothermic properties.

Draught tolerant planting combined with water-efficient landscaping and irrigation allows the house to irrigate multiple gardens without acting as a water drain.

An urban runoff drainage infiltration pit and rain cistern provide water reuse for irrigation, and low flush low flow toilets further reduce the house's potable water usage.

See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier
See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier

Applied finishes are all low VOC, and both construction waste and deconstruction materials were recycled.


See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier
See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier
See-Through House
© Eric Staudenmaier


See-Through House
Ground Floor Plan
See-Through House
Second Floor Plan


See-Through House
Section Diagram
See-Through House
Sketch Details