Central Coast Guest House and Studio

Central Coast Guest House and Studio is a contemporary retreat located at the base of a steep sandstone canyon, surrounded by coastal oak woodland on California’s Central Coast. The client requested an environmentally sensitive compound that could serve both as a place for family and communal gatherings and as a setting for the practice of Qigong. The remote, rugged terrain and the presence of mature oaks shaped the overall planning and form of the project. The design consists of two separate structures: a guest house and a studio, each positioned to take advantage of the existing landscape while minimizing impact on the site. The buildings are set among 100-year-old oak trees, with careful siting to preserve native vegetation and reduce earthwork on the steep hill. A curvilinear geometry defines both structures, creating a meditative, flowing character intended to harmonize with natural surroundings. Materials were chosen for durability and their ability to blend quietly with the context, including native sandstone, board-formed concrete, colored plaster, copper, and cedar, all intended to weather gracefully over time.