Johnston Marklee - Vault House

Vault House 

Situated on a densely developed beach site in Southern California, the Vault House transforms the shotgun, single view typology commonly found on narrow oceanfront residential lots. Instead of orienting only the main living spaces towards the single prime ocean view, the parallel orientation of the unidirectional vaulted rooms acts as a filter for light, view, and ventilation that extends the coastal atmosphere from the western beachfront façade, through to the street, at the eastern edge of the site.

The house was designed under the restrictions imposed by the California Coastal Commission, which require the main living area to be lifted two meters off the sand, allowing waves to flow beneath the building in the event of a tsunami.