Light and shadows interact in a home built to be part of an ever-changing landscape.

Sebastian Mariscal—who has offices in both San Diego and Boston—tends to speak ethereally of his architectural design, and his take on the Phoenix House, finished this year, is no exception. “The design process started as an emotional path of discovery,” he says, “where the house starts to exist as your steps build the walls and your breathing lets the space contract and expand.” In other words, this house is alive. Defined by site-poured concrete walls that surprise at every turn, the home is awash in shadows and light that constantly move throughout the day.

Well hidden from the street behind what Mariscal calls “a dense veil of wild vegetation,” the 4,300-square-foot house is designed to become part of nature, not detract from it. Inside, walnut and slate floors play off the horizontality of the concrete walls, with accents of color softening its hard edges. It is, says Mariscal, “a house of introspection.”

About the Architect

Collaborators

Project Manager: Jeff Svitak

GC: RGB Group

Structural: DCI Engineers

Landscape Architect: Rana Creek

Energy: Androit

Lighting: Claudia Kappl

Furniture & Kitchen: Klara Valent