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Collection by Luke Hopping

These Modern Surf-Side Homes Are Just Swell

With summer on the horizon, we compiled six surfers' houses that let in the beach, while keeping sand out.

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In a Manhattan Beach home, homeowner Matt Jacobson and architect Michael Lee designed the long steel-and-Ipe bench surrounding a square, concrete outdoor fire pit, which suspends from the low concrete wall in their outdoor space. Dukes relaxes on a Willy Guhl Loop chair with her German Shepherd, Major.
In a Manhattan Beach home, homeowner Matt Jacobson and architect Michael Lee designed the long steel-and-Ipe bench surrounding a square, concrete outdoor fire pit, which suspends from the low concrete wall in their outdoor space. Dukes relaxes on a Willy Guhl Loop chair with her German Shepherd, Major.
The dining room is meant to be a flexible space for eating or dancing. “One of the most important things for me,” explains Grunbaum, “is how a house feels. It has to be a place where you don’t want to leave.” The Cyclone table is by Isamu Noguchi for Knoll and the pendant lamp is by Lightoiler.
The dining room is meant to be a flexible space for eating or dancing. “One of the most important things for me,” explains Grunbaum, “is how a house feels. It has to be a place where you don’t want to leave.” The Cyclone table is by Isamu Noguchi for Knoll and the pendant lamp is by Lightoiler.
Thomas surveys the surf from the upstairs deck adjacent to the “quiet room.” Almost every room in the house, up and downstairs, opens to the outdoors.
Thomas surveys the surf from the upstairs deck adjacent to the “quiet room.” Almost every room in the house, up and downstairs, opens to the outdoors.
This solar-powered compound in Venice, California, was inspired by architect and resident David Hertz's surf safaris. As a young man traveling in Bali, he was impressed by tropical village compounds where indoors and out flow into each other. “Those houses seemed able to breathe, like plants and flowers,” he recalls.
This solar-powered compound in Venice, California, was inspired by architect and resident David Hertz's surf safaris. As a young man traveling in Bali, he was impressed by tropical village compounds where indoors and out flow into each other. “Those houses seemed able to breathe, like plants and flowers,” he recalls.
Aidlin Darling's design for a three-story, Cor-Ten steel addition to a beachfront house in San Francisco was featured in the September 2007 edition of Dwell. Photo by Robert Schlatter.
Aidlin Darling's design for a three-story, Cor-Ten steel addition to a beachfront house in San Francisco was featured in the September 2007 edition of Dwell. Photo by Robert Schlatter.