Glass and Concrete Home “Floats” on Serene Reflection Pool

This ethereal home in La Jolla, California is a series of contradictory and opposing elements that come together to create a harmonious and zen-like retreat. It is made of cast-in-place concrete and contains vast floor-to-ceiling windows that open the home up to the world around it.

The Cresta from Jonathan Segal Architects balances the heaviness of concrete, the airiness of glass and open space, and the fluid serenity of water.

Operable glass on the ground floor creates an outdoor room. Given the relatively small size of the interior part of the room, this feature adds a significant amount of living space.

The home is surrounded on two sides by a reflecting/swimming pool which makes the home appear to float on the water. The pool also provides the home with passive cooling to lower energy consumption.

Even the home’s concrete exterior serves a second purpose: its thermal mass gives the homeowners another way to keep their energy costs low. Additionally, a 6.5kw soar array on the roof supplies almost all of the energy the home needs, making this home not only beautiful but beautifully eco-friendly as well.