Blog | Santa Monica Residence: A Study in Invincible Summer

In a quiet enclave of Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Residence stands as a landmark of sustainable luxury. Designed by Fleetwood Fernandez Architects, the home replaces a traditional Tudor Revival with a LEED Platinum-certified sanctuary. The architecture is a linear sequence of multipurpose spaces that unfold with a feeling of natural progression.

To achieve a home that can be "thrown open" to the environment, the design integrates the Vitrocsa Invisible Wall system. In the living room, glazed floor-to-ceiling walls—33 feet wide by 10 feet high—slide effortlessly into hidden pockets. This choice of the Vitrocsa 3001 series allows the architecture to disappear. With the world's slimmest 3/4" (18mm) vertical profiles, the surrounding landscape becomes the primary structural element.

Sustainability Through Precision

The transparency of the glass was vital for achieving the home's high green-building honors. The expansive openings maximize passive solar gain and natural ventilation. This reduces the reliance on artificial systems and ensures the interior feels at one with the coastal environment. And the Vitrocsa-patented Invisible Sill is recessed into the flooring to create a completely flush transition. This allows the living spaces to expand into a private courtyard featuring native sycamores and drought-tolerant grasses.

This project is a testament to what is possible when environmental ideals meet precise design. At Goldbrecht, we believe that the most powerful architectural statements are often the ones that are the most transparent. And The Santa Monica Residence proves that a high-performance home can also be a space of profound beauty and ease.

Photography: Bryce Duffy
As featured on: ArchDaily