Clean living: clark beach house, aptos, calif., 1937 William Wurster, faia

Residential Architect, Sept-Oct, 2002 by Meghan Drueding

"i like to work on direct, honest solutions exotic materials, using indigenous things so that there is no affection and the best is obtained for the money."

the idea of using humble materials to achieve an understated elegance is popular among many of today's top architects. But it wasn't such a common practice in San Francisco-based architect William Wurster's day. His beachfront Clark House in Aptos, Calif., exemplifies his devotion to straightforward, regionally appropriate design.

Locally obtained, vertical redwood planks clad the home's exterior. A large wooden deck links house and beach, allowing the residents to do much of their living outdoors. Glassed-in sunrooms flank the deck, shielding it from strong winds. And sliding, glass-paned barn doors enable the house to be closed up quickly in inclement weather. When open, they permit the living room and deck to function as one indoor-outdoor space. The Clark House has been remodeled under subsequent owners. (Photo shows the original house.) It is still privately owned.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Hanley-Wood, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

 

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