Agahnia House, California / USA by Sebastian Mariscal Studio

Project Details:
Location: La Jolla, California, USA
Type: Residential - Houses
Architects: Sebastian Mariscal Studio – www.sebastianmariscal.com
Size: 6,173 Sq. Ft
Design Team: Sebastian Mariscal, Mauricio De la Pena, Fernando Iribarren

A humble path seductively leads to a filtered stonewall with a mysterious presence. There are no windows and no reference to any grand entrance. Rather, a dense and naturally grown vegetated surroundings. A door opens to discover an exterior space. The ground is sunken below the entrance level to contain a pond teeming with lilies, lotuses, and koi.

Floor Plan

Elevation / Section

A floating bridge guides us to a crafted space beyond and the absence of railings initiates an awareness and intimate dialogue of oneself with the architecture. The sound of gurgling water slows one’s attention to nature’s pace as the swimming koi create a dance of color below one’s feet. The enclosure beyond, crafted with rich warm Mahogany contrasts the stone and natural vegetation, creating a welcoming feeling. A sliding door reveals a sequence of flawless interior and exterior experiences based on natural conditions of space, light and airflow.

A subtle, yet deep-rooted relationship with nature is made evident, as the individual is removed from a public context into a more intimate one and is allowed to exist in an environment of silence, reflection, and peace.