Off-Grid Guest House With Natural Environment

This project was built as a goal to preserve and protect the natural environment. Directly facing the untouched wilderness of California’s Central Coast, the Off-Grid Guest House has been completed by ANACAPA Architecture in collaboration with Wilson Design. This modern guesthouse is located in a nature reserve area, demonstrating the successful balance of housing development and ecological preservation.

The entire project spans 1,800 square feet which minimizes its visual and environmental impact on the landscape. This guest house is tucked into a steep hillside and shaped by a low profile and green roof, so it blends into the terrain while offering panoramic views of the hills and the pacific ocean.

Through the Off-Grid Guest House, architects blur the boundaries between built and unbuilt spaces. The entire interior is encased in a three-way operable glass wall to invite the beauty of the sea and gorge within, creating a vast wilderness frame. This guest house was built using very sturdy basic materials, such as steel and concrete, and even glass which is designed to weather and naturally resist the patina over time. Rich walnut accents, custom fixtures and furnishings create a warm feeling in the space, bringing it closer to the natural environment.

The guesthouse and owner’s main residence nearby are completely disconnected due to their remote location with no access to electricity. The Off-Grid Guest House is powered entirely by a photovoltic energy system, which harnesses solar energy to meet its power requirements. LED lighting and equipment that is used less frequently is selected to reduce energy requirements and usage.

For water supply, the house has a private well and a water treatment system, while wastewater is channeled to a septic tank and dry well. The home incorporates a combination of radiant floor heating, cross-ventilation from multiple operable sliding glazings, and a green roof that regulates room temperature. It is this green roof that helps the house blend into the landscape while conserving water.