Montara House, designed by Anderson Anderson Architecture, stands on a hillside site overlooking the Pacific Ocean south of San Francisco. Shaped by tight zoning regulations and a frequently foggy coastal climate, the house adapts its form to capture views and light while maintaining privacy and shelter from the elements. To address the sloped terrain and constraints on sun access, the building's outline contorts within the permissible envelope, holding to both community guidelines and the needs of the site. Construction centered on resource efficiency and simplicity, using only hammered, site-cast concrete and sustainably-harvested Peruvian redwood. Thick insulated concrete walls are left exposed on both interior and exterior surfaces. The owners and their family built much of the structure themselves, including hand-making the windows, doors, and millwork on site. Inside, the main ceiling—a continuous curve of Peruvian redwood—responds to the slope of the street and tips downward at the rear to avoid casting shadows on neighboring properties. A glass clerestory volume pierces the roof, serving as a central stair, lightwell, and ventilation shaft, and providing access to the roof deck designed to house concealed solar equipment.
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