Dipsea Road I

LSAO renovated this house and landscape on a spacious lot next to the Seadrift lagoon in Stinson Beach. Our goal was to create a healing and serene environment. Inspired by the natural surroundings and the site's connection to the lagoon, we designed a series of cascading platforms, supported by board-formed concrete walls, punctuated by pockets of native plantings.

To maximize the connection to the outdoors, large sliding doors open from the kitchen and main living area directly towards the water. From inside, the deck conceals the platforms below, creating the illusion that the floor extends seamlessly to the water's edge. The deck and lower platforms were carefully sized and positioned to eliminate the need for handrails or any other visual obstructions. The owner’s statue of Budda floats on a bed of lavender and rosemary with the lagoon beyond.

The upper deck, serving as the main outdoor living space, was designed with the same attention to detail as the interior. Privacy was a key consideration and was achieved through strategically planted olive trees along the lagoon-side edge of the deck. This area offers ample space for seating and dining, with a firepit serving as a focal point.