Balboa Beach House
Balboa Beach House, Newport Beach, California, USA
Designed 1988
The 4,400 square foot house takes advantage of an adjacent landscape public way to open a 40’ x 80’
ocean front lot to views of the beach. The house, set on a poured-in-place concrete base, encloses a
basement garage on the alley side and opens to the beach side on grade. A slate covered shallow pool
and waterfall separate the interior from the public beach while keeping the views open to the ocean beyond
and allowing shimmering light to be reflected deep into the house.
The house is approached along a limestone clad garden wall and entered through a stainless steel gate
into a patio area. The main level patios are extensions of the interior living spaces, separated only by sliding
glass doors which, when fully stacked, leave corners and walls open. Floor-to-ceiling glass and glass block
walls within a painted steel frame allow natural light to illuminate the house. Glass is also used for
guardrails and some interior wall finishes to help complete the feeling of a glass house. Sandblasted glass
block overhanging balconies and sundeck over the entry allow diffused light below while providing exterior
areas off the second level bedrooms. Painted steel trellises break light into small patches over the patios and
bedroom walls.
The main door, in stainless steel, is entered underneath the sundeck and opens to a view of a limestone clad
steel stair. The stair is wrapped with curved glass in a sandblasted pattern and connects all three levels of
the house. French limestone on the floor, the stairs, the living room wall, the benches, and the pools visually
unites the house with the sand of the beach. Stainless steel and white lacquer finished wood is used for
casework and doors throughout. The house's five bathrooms feature stainless steel or limestone vanities and
coloured spandrel glass or mirror clad walls. Painted smooth finish gypsum board ceilings house recessed
lighting, sun control blinds and audio-visual equipment.
- Arthur Erickson