Architect's Dream Home

Architect Jonathan Segal and his son, Matthew Segal, built the Cresta to capitalize on Southern California’s balmy climate.

As far as cities with ideal climates go, San Diego ranks at the top of the list. The seaside metropolis enjoys moderate temperatures and sunshine year-round, conditions that are primed for the indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Categories

Residential
Classic line
Window wall
Multi-slide door

Location

San Diego
California

The stunning sunroom is surrounded on three sides by immense moving panels of glass.

When local architect Jonathan Segal set out to build his dream home for himself and his wife, Wendy, in the beachfront community of La Jolla, he took advantage of the temperate conditions to construct a residence that completely opens up to the natural setting. The Cresta, constructed of cast-in-place concrete, is a rectangular form carved out to allow the Segals to spend most of their time outdoors.

“The outdoor room gives you the security of being inside, but in the same respect you’re enjoying the smell and noise and every aspect of the ocean being right there.”

- Matthew Segal

An astounding array of Western Window Systems multi-slide doors and window walls exemplifies the near-limitless possibilities they present to architects.

Set in a suburban context, the narrow lot necessitated creative planning. Matthew Segal, Jonathan’s son and the project manager for the build, explains, “The intent was to maximize the potential for square footage inside and outside and make the house feel larger than it is.” The resulting three-story residence is 5,300 square feet, including a subterranean floor that holds a wine cellar, gym, and entertainment room with a bar. The ground floor is comprised of communal living space, and the second floor has bedrooms and the office.

Though the four corners of the rectangular building remain intact, a courtyard cuts into the home, providing a volume of open space within the larger form. “The outdoor room gives you the security of being inside, but in the same respect you’re enjoying the smell and noise and every aspect of the ocean being right there,” says Matthew. The living room features a Western Window Systems Window Wall and Multi-Slide Door, allowing the family to peel back the glass partitions to merge the interior and exterior space.

Architect Jonathan Segal maximized the potential of the indoor-outdoor living concept with this La Jolla masterpiece.

A 90-degree multi-slide door in the sunroom completely merges the indoors with the outside.

The narrow lot necessitated a lot of creative planning, the Segals say.

“[Western Window Systems] has been really great for us,” says Matthew. “Their product is durable, withstanding the ocean. Their timing has been very accurate—when they commit to a date, they commit to a date.” With construction streamlined to take just nine months, the Segals appreciated the efficiency, reliability, and flexibility of the company, which provided custom sizing of the grand windows.

The house allows the residents to enjoy the sounds and smells of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

To further connect the dwelling to its environment, the team designed a reflective swimming pool that wraps around the front and side of the Cresta. “It creates a sense of floating over the water,” says Matthew. “It connects to the texture and sound of it with beautiful reflections and inherent natural qualities.”