Bildsten Architecture and Planning

May 2014

A small, wood-paneled home nestles into the surrounding rocks.

Santa Barbara, CA

Oct 2013

Perched on the edge of the Pacific in Montecito, six beachside units had been built in the 1960s by a group of Los Angeles friends on a minimal budget. The new owners of one unit wanted to create a user-friendly, sophisticated and energy-efficient space. The overall design relates interior spaces and finishes to the sky, sand and water. The upstairs layout was reconfigured to open the floor plan from one end of the space to the other; the kitchen, dining, study and living areas flow together, taking advantage of the magnificent ocean views. A fourteen-foot sliding glass door opens to the outdoor deck; the panels disappear into a wall pocket to blur the line between indoor and outdoor living space. New bands of skylights span the living space, and windows draw in mountain and ocean views. The entry, bedrooms and baths occupy the ground floor, with views to the garden. The steel stair was pulled away from the 2-story wall, allowing space for a sculptural element that varies in function from front entry bench to display shelves for art objects to media cabinets in the upper floor living room. Energy efficiency far beyond requirements include the use of Energy star appliances, spray-in foam insulation, thermally efficient window and doors, and a boiler system to fuel both domestic hot water and radiant heating. Lighting design focused on concealed LED light fixtures; provisions were made for future rooftop photovoltaic panels and a passive hot water system. These systems are integrated into the structure to not detract from the elegant simplicity of the design and natural power of the setting.

Montecito, CA

Mar 2013

The owners focused their attention on developing an inviting garden and swimming pool in their large backyard to increase their familys living area without adding to the house. The pool is sited at the far end of the property to keep plenty of open space near the house for everyday garden fun. The terracotta curved wall faces straight south to serve as a sundial, provide privacy from neighbors and hold back the hillside, while the rust-colored open cabana facing north focuses on the surrounding mountain views and provides shade all day long. The cabana roof is tilted south and is oversized to accommodate solar panels that heat the pool water. The pool equipment occupies one enclosed side of the cabana, with an outdoor shower at the opposite side.

Santa Barbara, CA

Jul 2012

The owners of this house bought it unfinished so that they could complete it as a contemporary sculpture gallery and garden. The entire 1-acre property was conceived as a sculpture garden graced by his large-scale brass flowing shapes. The largest of the sculptures incorporates a fountain and was sited to serve as the visual axis and focal point for the 1500 square foot living room and angled entry addition. An outdoor stair wraps around the east end of the living room to afford access to distant ocean views from the roof deck. The original areas of the house had been constructed of adobe and served as a lemon-packing plant decades ago. The contemporary feel was carried through the kitchen, living and sleeping areas with glossy white painted trusses, maple hardwood floors and well-lit white walls for their modern art collection.

Santa Barbara, CA

Oct 2011

The 3,000 square foot ranch style home near Pasadena was originally built in 1950. The couple was ready for a complete interior and exterior renovation to create a modern backdrop for their busy working lives and yet retain the spirit of the original mid-century design. Landscape work included an inviting water feature in the new front entry courtyard to draw visitors to the secluded front entry. The back garden was improved by reducing the lawn area in favor of drought-tolerant plantings, incorporating the existing swimming pool into the overall space, and introducing an alley of trees, a bocce ball court and shady seating areas. The renovated house and gardens were featured in the 2011 Pasadena ASID Home and Kitchen tour to popular acclaim and continue to delight the owners.

Pasadena, CA

Oct 2009

The original 4-bedroom adobe house was built in the 1950s with a narrow galley kitchen as the only link between the two wings of the house. The owners preferred a generous kitchen that would connect with the existing dining, family and media areas to become the hub of their growing familys life. New double wood stud construction for the addition preserves the thick-walled aesthetic and affords space for deep appliance garages at countertop level. Heavy plastered beams define spaces within the new open plan while maintaining the scale of the traditional rooms of the house. The double-coved ceiling detail was continued into the new spaces to ease the transition with the original house. The new raised deck, with outdoor dining and fireplace, flows directly from the kitchen and steps down to the landscaped backyard and vegetable garden. From these outdoor areas, the family enjoys panoramic views of the ocean, canyon and mountains.

Santa Barbara, CA

Oct 2009

This contemporary Mediterranean home was perched on a steep hillside with stunning ocean views but no level outdoor space or access to most of the property down the hill. The owners wanted a native garden and fruit trees, outdoor entertaining space, a small guesthouse, lap pool and solar panels for both electricity and pool heating. A new patio at the back of the house with fountain and fire begins the sequence of spaces; a curved stone stair links the house to the stepped terraces below. Drought tolerant landscaping creates a green buffer between the two areas. Our design strategy allowed the natural contours of the land to suggest the angle, location and width of each terrace. A steel trellis shelters a sitting area on the highest level; the next terrace accommodates a broad entertaining area with fireplace, an outdoor kitchen and guesthouse; the lowest level includes the lap pool divided from the spa with floating stone steps across to the pool deck. An orchard, walking paths and solar panels occupy the lowest landscaped portion of the site.

Santa Barbara, CA