Jeffrey Dungan Architects Jeffrey Dungan Architects

Manhattan Beach

I’ve always loved Southern California—from the mild, sunny weather and the rolling landscapes along Highway 1 to the natural beauty and exciting architecture. The lifestyle is casual, comfortable, and focused on the outdoors. Healthy sunshine and beachy palm tree coolness were the vibe I wanted to express in this project. In part I took inspiration from sandcastles, as expressed in the carving of the stucco walls and parapets. Visually, I wanted shape, form, and texture to express the idea of freedom.

I continued the sandcastle idea in the interior architecture by sculpting curved, vaulted ceilings in the living room and the barrel-vaulted breakfast nook.

I organized the house into three sections—the main house, the pool house, and the central courtyard. I used the first two as bookends to the courtyard with a swimming pool.