Wilson House

This coastal home is perched on the crest of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the San Diego community of Ocean Beach. Designed for an eclectic art- loving couple, the substantial remodel balances expansive ocean views with the need for wall area to display pieces of their collection. By remodeling the existing house, the owners were able to circumvent a long and costly coastal permit process. Remnants of the old house are left exposed as artifacts; for instance, the old masonry wall and fireplace visible from the street. The original home was dark and confining; placing clerestory volumes between the new second floor rooms let light pass through to the first floor below. At around 4,200 square feet, the home boasts four bedrooms, a gracious studio apartment for guests or grown children, cornerless sliding glass doors that open out to a view terrace, as well as a roof deck to take in the 270 degree panorama.