Big Sur Voss House / Designed in 1931 by influential architect William Wurster, the craftsman-style Voss House sits on a hillside in Big Sur with stunning views over the valley and out to the Pacific. Preserving the home’s historic character while creating outdoor rooms, JLJA designed a craftsman-style entry trellis with a custom-fabricated corten gate that leads to a charming entry garden. The stone-edged pool and spa, situated in a native grass meadow, captures dramatic views of the Big Sur coast and sunset views of the Pacific Ocean. Grasses, sedges, and woodland plantings, including aloe and bird-of-paradise salvaged from the original garden, were strategically placed to create “view pockets” that frame and highlight spectacular vistas of the mountains and coastline while underscoring the setting’s natural, untamed beauty. JLJA chose materials that emphasize an indoor-outdoor experience and tie into the home's original materials: rough stone walls, blue slate paths, and board-and-batten house.

Client: Private client
Location: Big Sur, CA
Dates: 2012-2013
Size: 1.65 acre
Design Director: Dana Kueffner
Consulting Architect: Steve Farneth, Architectural Resources Group
Consulting Architect: Susan Bailey, Any Habitat
Consulting Engineer: Messmer & Associates
Environmental Consultant: Grice Engineering & Geology
General Contractor: Rider Construction
Metal Fabricator: Josh Wade, Wade's Welding
Original Architect: William Wurster, FAIA (1895-1973)

Photo: Kodiak Greenwood