Malibu House | Horst Noppenberger

This project is a remodel and addition to a beachfront house in Malibu originally designed in 1969 by the celebrated mid-century architect, Edward Fickett, FAIA. During his illustrious career, Edward Fickett designed more than 60,000 post war houses from his Los Angeles studio. In 1969, the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department designated his Jacobsen House above Barnsdall Park as a Historic Cultural Monument.

The site is a windswept stretch of beach sharing an intimate relationship with the forces of nature acting upon it. The adjacent, ardent hills speak to a distant time when this area was once inhabited by the Chumash Indians, drawn to this location for it’s fertile soil, along with plentiful hunting and fishing.This residence responds directly to the owner's brief for a relaxed family beach house. They desired a comfortable setting to engage with family and friends, while also enjoying the views and natural surroundings of the site.  The benign coastal climate created the opportunity for the seamless integrate of interior and exterior space.

The design process evolved into one of archaeology, carefully stripping away extraneous elements that over time were added to Fickett’s modernist design aesthetic. Once the unadorned structure was revealed, we understood the meaning of Fickett’s design, walls of solidity and transparency around a central courtyard, balancing view with privacy.  Searching for connectivity within the natural colors and textures of the site, we found rock formations wherein the action of surf and tide created perforated patterns. This led us to investigate draping the existing structure in a similar perforated skin composed of reinforced concrete. This perforated skin both ties the structure to the site, while also providing privacy and an orchestration of light.

The resulting design, honors the work of Edward Fickett, FAIA, fulfills the rigorous requirements of the client, and engages in a passionate and robust dialogue with the site.