Master bedroom and bath, private view deck, study … it's an upstairs "escape zone."

Sunset, May, 1988

Master bedroom and bath, private view deck, study . . . it's an upstairs "escape zone"

To get away from it all, homeowner Mike Mathos needs only to walk up the stairs. His new second-floor escape zone includes a master bedroom and bath, a private view deck, and study with a fireplace, wet bar, and spa.

About a third of the 28- by 51-foot addition to the 2,400-square-foot hourse is devoted to a deck that sits on the roof of the first floor and faces an ocean view to the west. Knee-high planters ring most of the deck; their walls are sheathed in the same lapped siding that covers the house. Galvanized liners and a built-in drain system protect the wood and roof.

The deck tapers sharply at one end, along the study wall. Here a sliding glass door opens the study to the deck; inside, a 3 1/2-foot-wide tiled step follows the angled wall. Forming the fireplace hearth at one end, the step widens to merge into a spa surround at the other.

Twelve-foot ceilings--and high windows in the end walls--make the study bright and spacious. For contrast that increases intimacy, the adjacent bedroom has lower ceilings. As the plan shows, the spa's orientation creates an angled wall in the bedroom. Folding louvered panels between the bedroom and spa can open for views clear through the addition.

Designer was Jim Galvin of Comstock, Glavin, Cristilli Architects, San Diego.

Photo: Roof-deck planter walls wear broad cap rail

Photo: Addition pops up out of roof above garage, entry, and walled garden (left)

Photo: Spa nestles in angled central corner of exterior and interior walls. Raised tiled landing between spa and fireplace is at same level as exterior roof deck