Big Sur, Rocky Point House / Perched on the Big Sur coastline, this private residence and surrounding landscape was shaped by a hidden ravine discovered early in design – a suggestion from the land that became the heart of the project. JLJA restored the ravine into a seasonal stream and oriented the home around it, with wings connected by a glass bridge and interiors framed to capture its living drama. Boulders were artfully layered down the ravine to read as natural sculpture in the dry season; they transform into a waterfall, pond, and bird-bathing shelf when the rains arrive. Pathways invite discovery across the site's distinct ecosystems of cypress woodland, coastal meadow, riparian corridor, and coastal terrace. An "Enchanted Forest" – with a twig-and-branch tunnel, embankment slide, climbing boulder, and stepping-stone labyrinth – brings wonder and play into the landscape. Throughout, the design restored the coastal bluff to a healthier, more ecologically stable condition, returning the land to itself while deepening the human connection to place.

Photography by Joe Fletcher

Client: Private Client
Location: Big Sur, CA
Dates: 2021-2024
Size: 2.27-acre property
Architect:‍ ‍Field Architecture
General Contractor:‍ ‍Dowbuilt
Engineering Contractor: BW Engineering
Landscape Contractor: Town & Country Landscaping

Photography by Joe Fletcher

Photography by Joe Fletcher

Photography by Joe Fletcher

Landscape concept plan

Water and ravine study

Sketch of view through windows out to the landscape - little seep and pond

Sketch of view through windows out to the landscape - water feature