Nestled within the awe-inspiring landscape of Big Sur, California, is a home that embodies the spirit of its environment. Designed by the father-son team at Field Architecture, this home is much more than a structure; it’s an architectural dialogue with the land, acknowledging Big Sur’s unique terrain and climate in a way few homes dare to match.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Location: Big Sur, California, North America
Architecture & Interior Design: Field Architecture
Build: Hunt Brothers Construction, Inc. Dowbuilt
Landscape Design: Joni Janecki & Associates
Photography: Joe Fletcher
Stretching along the Pacific coast from Carmel to Gorda, Big Sur is one of North America’s most iconic landscapes. With rugged cliffs and sweeping vistas, it’s a place where the land and sea collide dramatically. At this intersection of mountain and ocean, Field Architecture has crafted a residence that sits harmoniously within the surrounding environment, sensitively designed to withstand the Pacific’s dynamic forces while celebrating the land’s natural beauty.
The project began with a deep respect for the land. Field Architecture’s founders, Stan and Jess Field, took time to intimately understand the site, even going so far as to excavate a soft patch of dirt on-site, discovering a natural waterway filled over time. This discovery became a guiding element, revealing how the landscape’s history could inform the home’s future.
The design reflects this careful attention to place. A stone monolith marks the home’s entry pavilion, where a pathway of exterior paving flows seamlessly indoors. This unbroken line guides visitors to a bench where they can remove their shoes, stepping onto warm timber floors. Here, architecture and nature intertwine, blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors.
Perhaps the most striking feature of Big Sur House is the glass-encased bridge spanning a ravine. Floor-to-ceiling glass on either side of the bridge offers unparalleled views of the rugged coastline, immersing occupants within the vast natural landscape. It’s a breathtaking transition, amplifying the feeling of connectedness with the environment.
“There is a seamless flow between spaces,” explains Jess Field, “with the eastern side of the home burrowing into the hillside and the western side opening up to the ocean.” The south-facing facade is sheltered by generous overhangs, providing shade from the California sun, while the great room is defined by monumental stone walls that seem to have been hewn from the rock itself. This weightiness is beautifully balanced by a horizontal wooden floor, creating a visual harmony that mirrors the natural landscape.
Throughout the home, the material palette is a direct reflection of Big Sur’s aesthetic. Field Architecture utilized materials that echo the textures of the coast: rugged stone on the exterior and warm oak and beech on the interior, punctuated by cool grey quartzite walls. Islands within the space appear to float, a visual nod to the rocky outcroppings visible in the Pacific.
The home is more than just a retreat for its inhabitants—it’s a living extension of Big Sur’s terrain. “With each project, we strive for a symbiotic relationship between built and natural environments,” says Jess Field. “Big Sur House became a study in spatial experimentation with the landscape, a dynamic push-pull between anchoring to the land and reaching out to the sea.”
As one approaches the entry, a stone wall guides guests toward the home, and a gap in the monolith reveals a wooden door. Inside, the arrival space, or genkan, is a tribute to traditional Japanese design, inviting one to remove their shoes before entering the heart of the home.
Big Sur House by Field Architecture is a testament to the power of place. It’s a home where natural forces and human ingenuity meet, offering its residents an immersive experience of the land. Here, the lines between indoor and outdoor dissolve, allowing nature and architecture to coexist in stunning harmony. This is not just a home; it’s a landscape in itself—a place to live, explore, and feel truly connected to the powerful environment surrounding it.
