The Sea Ranch Dossier

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
Project Name: The Sea Ranch
Alternative Name: Sea Ranch Condominium
Architect(s): MltW
Location: 100 km North of San Francisco, Californian Coast
Address: 60 Sea Walk Drive, The Sea Ranch, CA, America
Building Type: Condominium
Design/Construction Dates: Planning and Construction period= 1963-1972 (Ongoing design and construction)

Completion Date: Condominium One = 1966

Client(s): Individuals, couples and families needing a getaway, place to rent short term or long term. Ultimately people that had a reverence for the coast and environment would essentially enhance this life of Sea Ranch.
Size: Total= 41.907kmSquared
Budget/Construction Cost: $300 - $350 per square foot per home.
Collaborators: Al Boeke (Vice President of Development, Architect and Land Planner), Lawrence Halperin (Landscape Architect), Joseph Esherick (Architect), The four Architects who formed the MLTW group are Charles Moore, Donlyn Lyndon, William Turnbull and Richard Whitaker.

II. BACKGROUND/ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:

In 1963 Ocean Properties, purchased Rancho Del Mar. Al Boeke along side Lawrence Halprin conceived the vision to develop the 4,000 acres of land on the Californian coast from timber and grazing land into a community focused ranch that would give ‘pride and place to the unique characteristics of the site’ (Lyndon, 2004). The location of the site, on the Western facing slope of the San Andreas fault line that swept down from forest to the cliffs of the coast created a unique terrain that Halprin planned to take advantage of in a way that would allow the buildings and the land to seamlessly ‘fold’ into an ‘organic whole’ (Halprin, 2004). The prior uses of the land and they ways in which that had affected site influenced the position of each house. Halrpin believed that cypress hedgerows that had been planted by the previous owner to protect their sheep and grazing areas from the brutal coastal winds contrasted with the organic plane of the land to give the space a ‘scope and structure’ that made it ‘distinct’ (Lyndon, 2004) and engaging. These hedgerows dictated the positioning of houses on the site as they provided shelter from the windy coastal conditions by running at a right angle to the coast. The unique ecological conditions and the ways in which the land had previously been utilised inspired Halprin’s vision to ‘intertwine’ (Lyndon, 2004) the man-made buildings of the ranch with their site.

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The Sea Ranch and its natural inhabitance...

MLTW began their Sea Ranch endeavor with the Condominium One as the first prototype. After great success, during the late 1960’s the ten-mile property soon became a multi residential planned coastal community, which now portrays a vast array of houses all of which are inspired by the surrounding local agricultural barns and buildings. Each individual house or unit can be rented for short or long term stays. No one building in the community is sited or designed the same, they are all unique creating a hybrid of modern and organic architecture along the vast stretch of pacific coastline. Individual design aspects are thoroughly analyzed for each building as they all surround different movements of the land. In order for the houses to conform with the landscape analysis was undertaken to examine the prevailing coastal weather and specifically strong winds, how to achieve the best view possible yet still maintain quality privacy, and most importantly ‘siting buildings in a way that would compliment and draw from the land’ (Lyndon, 40). Enabling ‘each building to engage the land, to become part of this way in which people could accommodate to this extraordinary, and often chilled and windy terrain’ (Lyndon, 40), MLTW achieved this through sloping roofs to funnel the wind, use of natural rugged materials to enhance the surroundings and construction would follow the contours of the land ‘to make the land more habitable, without destroying the very qualities that attracted people to this segment of coast’ (Lyndon, 45). Predominantly natural, rustic design concepts and materials such as timber and glass, would allow for the homes to blend into and become a part of the natural landscape. The design and overall development of The Sea Ranch community plays a role in the establishment of the Californian coastline. To this day there are approximately 2288 lots making The Sea Ranch more than three quarters built out and has evidently established its own individual architectural style during its era.

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III. INTENTIONS OF THE ARCHITECT <!--StartFragment-->

MLTW along with Halprin and Boeke envisioned that the unique landscape that was to be shared amongst homeowners and visitors of The Sea Ranch would stem a sense of community and a shared sense of place amongst the residents. Lyndon believed that ‘bonds [would be] strengthened and deepened by common experience of this place’. They planned to achieve this through creating communal spaces and positioning houses in clusters within the expansive site to act as a vehicle to facilitate interactions between house owners. 50% of the land was set aside as open space to be held in common. ‘Large outdoor rooms’ (Halrpin, 1993) were created by positioning houses on right angles to the coast and parallel to the existing hedgerows which provided a common area.

Halprin and the rest of design team ‘strived to build a community’ by creating recreational spaces that were unique to the location. As well all residents having access to the beach, it was intended that they would provide additional facilities that would promote communal use. These included a golf course that used the natural form of the landscape, two swimming pools built into the land ‘with relation to the natural surroundings’ (Halprin, 1993), tennis areas, river swimming, boating, and a lodge that initially served as a central hub for the fledgling community to hold meetings, gatherings and functions through the Sea Ranch Association (est. 1965).

(EM)

Architects Landscape intentions

MLTW architects had great intentions for minimal impact along the Californian coastline, their ‘Sea Ranch’ envision. What is now world renowned for its site and building design focusing predominantly on environmental considerations followed simple yet systematic controls to engulf Sea Ranch within the land itself. Minimal visual and physical impact on the coastal landscape was achieved through emphasis on topography, climate, light and tectonic form.

Their design philosophy worked around the basic ideals of retaining minimal impact on the surrounding landscape, encouraging the connections between patterns of natural growth and human intervention, and making sure the physical designs enhanced the natural balance and scale of the landscape better than parcelised development. Design goals included maintaining the land as primary as possible, and buildings complimenting the character of the organic landscape.

Precise land development control was taken in order to preserve the land as much as possible with roads constructed along the contours and natural lay of the land with no curbs or drains, all vegetation was to be native and it was important to have roaming flock of sheep to contain the long grasses and help protect against fire hazards. In conclusion, MLTW ultimately had a unique environmental intention, which evolved around ‘living lightly with the land’ (Halprin 2004) and building, maintaining a community that encouraged and fostered this ultimate envision.

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IV. DRAWINGS
Site plan:

Site Plan of Condominium One (Lyndon 2004, 39) (OR)

Site Plan showing the stretch of Californian Coastline (Lyndon 2004, 76) (OR)

Building plans:

First floor plan (Lyndon, 41) (EM)

Sections:

First & second floor section (Lyndon, 89) (EM)

Elevations:

N/A (Non Existent)

Renderings (axonometric and/or perspectives):

Render (Lyndon 2004, 24) (OR)

Render (Lyndon 2004, 19) (OR)

Other (sketches, details, etc.):

Site diagram (Halrpin, 286) (EM)

Diagram (Halrpin, 292) (EM)

V. PHOTOGRAPHS
Exterior: (OR)

Condominium One view from water (Lyndon 2004, 38)

Interior:(EM)

Unit Eight First Floor (Lyndon 2004, 49) (EM)

Unit One First Floor (Lyndon 2004, 47) (EM)

Unit Nine (Lyndon 2004, 53) (EM)

Unit Eight Ground Floor (Lyndon 2004, 49) (EM)

Unit Nine Ground Floor (Lyndon 2004, 52) (EM)

Unit Nine Ground Floor (Lyndon 2004, 52) (EM)

Unit Eight Ground Floor (Lyndon 2004, 49) (EM)

Unit Eight Staircase (Lyndon 2004, 51) (EM)

Unit One First Floor (Lyndon 2004, 48) (EM)

Unit One First Floor (Lyndon 2004, 45) (EM)

VI. CONSTRUCTION
Construction system(s):

The Sea Ranch follows the bay region tradition of exposed wood construction. Heavy Douglas Fir timber columns support horizontal beams to which planks of wood are nailed to create the wall surfaces. The exterior surface of the planks is covered with building paper and has a second layer of timber boards attached. The roof is constructed using a similar system but is covered by wood shingles to increase weather resistance. Horizontal roof members and roof beams all pass beside the columns and are attached to them by bolts as apposed to placing them on top, resulting in columns standing away from the walls.

(EM)

Materials used
a) exterior:

Douglas Fir timber columns, planks and beams, redwood timber paneling, wood shingles, building sheets, glass windows

(EM)

b) interior:

The majority of Condominium One, and many of the other dwellings in Sea Ranch, where predominantly constructed and decorated with timber. From all of the exposed structural elements such as the beams, and columns to the polished floor boards, window frames and sills, cupboards, doors, table tops and stairs, primarily everything was a rich, warm, cosy timber surface.

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Environmental Systems:

Environmental Systems: Throughout the Sea Ranch site all roads were constructed in such a way that they would follow the contours of the land allowing for as little destruction as possible and therefore reinforcing the natural beauty of the land.
There are no streetlights and minimal outdoor lighting around the houses to decrease night-time light pollution.
None of the buildings have roof overhangs, this was a design idea incorporated to essentially allow the prevailing winds to travel up and over the buildings rather than creating high turbulence areas through the outdoor spaces.
The use of floor length windows and high ceiling windows allow for that extra natural light to penetrate throughout Condominium One units, and therefore minimising the use for artificial lighting.

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VII. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE/ INNOVATIONS INTRODUCED:

The Sea Ranch was built during the 1960’s, during which there was shift towards a more open, community approach to design. MLTW’s focus on regionalism and post-modernism at the time shaped the design, which ignores dogmas associated with modernism and instead allows for the design’s rationale to be dictated by the site. They used the design as a platform to promote the importance of integrating the architecture within the existing landscape. The use of a homogenous visual vocabulary based of regional barns and forms that organically flow over the contours of the site demonstrated sensitivity to the buildings’ context, a concept that was gaining popularity at the time.

A community approach to urban planning that provides common spaces and offers equal opportunity to each residency in terms of the proximity to the ocean and views of it was also emerging at the time. This communal concept with an emphasis on the ‘habitat’ was a reasonably innovative concept at the time of the designs conception. American architect Charles Moore of MLTW went on to become extremely influential in the Post-Modernist movement during the 1970s.

(EM)

Innovations introduced.

Innovations Introduced: The Sea Ranch was a natural phenomenon for its time. Not just through architecture but also within the idea of creating or building this community of like-minded people who would essentially enhance the natural environment and together maintain the Californian coastline. MLTW’s project winning the 25 Year Award in 1991 is a clear example of how effective the architecture and environmental prospects have been. Overall the Sea Ranch represents the intimate connection between the landscape, surrounding natural elements and human intervention. Where human intervention has been precisely and delicately placed within the land for a subtle yet lasting impact. Each dwelling holds itself uniquely, intertwining themselves within the sloping hills and forest backgrounds. The grand use of the natural material, timber, in a natural place, consequently highlights the feeling of the organic, rugged and wild outdoors. Each dwelling or unit has their own touch of home, warmth and feeling of freedom and privacy, whilst being totally exposed to the ocean elements. MLTW’s environmental innovations were more or less design concepts in which they undertook. These concepts included minimal eaves to avoid swooping tunnels of wind, sloping roofs to naturally allow the wind to flow up and over the buildings creating pockets of sheltered spaces, no street lamps and minimal outdoor lighting was incorporated to avoid nigh time light pollution, and curved roads following the contours of the land where important in order to maintain minimal environmental obstruction.
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[100-200 words per student, add initials after entry]

VIII. ANALYTIC DIAGRAMS
Parti diagram:

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Program diagram:

(EM)

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Structure diagram:

(EM)

Sloping Roof concept (OR)

Tectonics diagram:

(EM)

Simple timber beam construction (OR)

Ornament diagram:

(OR)

(EM)

Site/Context diagram:

(OR)

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IX. ANNOTATED REFERENCES

Books:

Donlyn, Lyndon. The Sea Ranch. edited by Donald Canty, James Alinder and Lawrence Halprin New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004.

This book is written by one of the architects and includes a lot of photographs and drawings (EM)

Richard, Sexton. Parallel Utopias : The Quest for Community : The Sea Ranch, California, Seaside, Florida. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1995.

This book provides insight into the vision behind creating a 'community' at The Sea Ranch (EM)

Moore, Lyndon Turnbull, and Whitaker. The Sea Ranch, California, 1966. edited by Yukio Futagawa and William Turnbull Tokyo : A.D.A. EDITA Tokyo, 1971. (OR)

Articles:

Lyndon, Donlyn. 2003 “The Sea Ranch: dwelling in place,” Phi Kappa Phi Forum 83.3 [1]-[8]

Based specifically on Condominium One and explains the reasoning behind the forms and materials chosen and the relationship between the condominium and the site (EM)

Halprin, Lawrence. 1993. “Halprin’s recollections,” Progressive Architecture no. 74: [92]-[94]

Good information on what the architects' initial intentions were for the site (EM)

Moore, Charles Willard. "Sea Ranch: Moore's Home Turf." [In English]. By Charles Willard Moore. Progressive architecture 74, no. 2 (1993): 98-99. (OR)

Lyndon, Donlyn. 2009. “The Sea Ranch: Qualified Vernacular,” Journal of Architectural Education no. 63: [81]-[89] (OR)

Websites:

Unknown. “Sea Ranch Condominium.” Accessed April 28, 2013. http://www.GreatBuildings.com/buildings/Sea_Ranch_Condominium.html

Gives detailed background on site and provides a large collection of photographs of The Sea Ranch (EM)

Architect Magazine. “Environmental Icon.” Accessed April 28, 2013. http://www.architectmagazine.com/sustainability/environmental-icon.aspx

Clear summary of the project and includes elevation (EM)

Bob Borson. "Life of an Architect". Accessed April 29, 2013. http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/sea-ranch/

Gives a great perspective on a visitors point of view. Great detail on Condominium One. Descriptive photographs and floor plans. (OR)

Unknown. "The Sea Ranch". Accessed April 29, 2013. http://www.tsra.org/news.php?viewStory=139

Knowledge on bakcground history and the early inhabitants. Brief summary on what its like today. (OR)

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X. LINKS

"Dream of The Sea Ranch" by Zara Muren:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeT_LOckjHM

This video of The Sea Ranch is good for understanding the conditions of the coast and includes brief interviews of architects (EM)

American Architecture Now: Charles Moore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd5YjS2aI5A

This Youtube video is of an interview with Charles Moore (EM)

"Sea Ranch". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqIYXy6bLks

Really great to actual see and hear the landscape architect himself, Halprin. He describes his love for the surrounding nature and how he created wind protected areas. Great images of Condominium one, gives a new perspective of the sheer size of the units. (OR)

-- Main.ariselig - 2010-01-27

-- AriSeligmann? - 2011-12-11

-- Main.ejmcf3 - 2013-03-11