© Mary E. Nichols
- Architects: Norm Applebaum Architect
- Location: Rancho Santa Fe, United States
- Lead Architects: Norm Applebaum AIA
- Area: 54000.0 ft2
- Project Year: 2005
- Photographs: Mary E. Nichols, Paul Barnett
- Contracting: Lang’s General
- Structural Engineer: Stedman & Dyson
© Mary E. Nichols
Text description provided by the architects. The architecture of “Suncatch” came about after an 8 year design and construction process. It sits on 30 acres in the prestigious area known as Rancho Santa Fe in Southern California. The project consists of 54,000 square feet of floor space divided as follows, 24,500 square feet of living space and 29,500 square feet for a 37 car showroom under the house. It was completed in 2005.
© Mary E. Nichols
The architect’s client stated that he wanted the finest house in the region. The home is finished out using a half million board feet of clear vertical grain Douglas fir, floors, ceilings, cabinets, doors, fascia and all trim. Plaster walls and poured in place concrete, using a veneer system invented by the architect, are the finish materials. Views were to north but large overhangs were used to capture the south sun, this in turn brightens up the interior spaces of the architecture.
© Mary E. Nichols
The roads are finished in hand cut Porphyry stone. One drives through and below the swimming pool before reaching the entry parking. To experience the leaded glass entry and leaded art glass throughout the house designed by the architect is truly amazing.
© Mary E. Nichols
The architecture was designed by model only, no 2-dimensional drawings were used. This gave the architect time to study each space and learn what the scale should be for each room in the house. Working drawings were created after scaling all spaces from the study model.
© Mary E. Nichols
Stated in 2005, “This house is one of the greatest pieces of architecture of the 21st Century”, according to the late Julius Shulman, famed architectural photographer.
© Paul Barnett