Architects: Surfside Projects
Project: The Beach Lab
Project size: 1698 ft2
Site size: 7500 ft2
Location: Encinitas, California
Photography: Darren Bradley
The Beach Lab project was completed in 2017 by Surfside Projects, a design based Real Estate Development firm. A tired, termite and mold ridden Mid Century Rancher close to the Beach was screaming for a full modernist upgrade without adding more square footage.
The architect’s description: Few older coastal homes in Southern California are still standing that ooze that iconic Beachy character. Just a short walk to the Surf, the complete recycling of this 1957 Rancher was our attempt to passionately morph the tired home into an environmentally conscious, fun living space.
All of the original 2 bed + 1 bath bungalow’s structure was kept intact, upgraded to current codes and now highlighted by the interior vaulted ceiling with exposed wood beams. An all new angled cube volume re-used the old concrete slab and replaced a termite & mold infested addition from the 60’s. Passive designed overhangs, thoughtful use of natural wood, abundance of natural light, multi slide glass doorsand a simple open plan define the clean design narrative.
The Beach Lab project was an R&D test experiment to introduce new yet proven materials and techniques for our own brand of pragmatic Modernism. Kitchen doors made of Marine-grade Plywood sheets were right off the lumberyard shelf. Exterior wood siding was sandblasted prior to staining in order to raise the grain and accent the texture of flat grain Douglas Fir. Both equate to subtle nuances of non-standard details which contributed honorably to maintaining the cool factor of this coastal lifestyle redux.
Modestly scaled, the single level house is 1698 sf with zero extra building footprint added to the 7500 sf infill lot. Re-programmed to a two bedroom, adding a home office that can be a flex space for a third bedroom and a new Master with bath + walk-in closet. Dual outdoor living spaces front and rear were specifically integrated due to the unique community dynamics of the street. Modern returns to the Beach in Encinitas.
