Big Sur Retreat

Envisioned as a private retreat, the project strikes a balance between functional outdoor living and a deep reverence for the natural aesthetics of the site. A palette of reclaimed timber, locally quarried granite and gravel, and a climate-appropriate plant palette fosters a strong sense of regional harmony with the surrounding Big Sur landscape.

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The design unfolds as a series of terraces, meandering paths, and stone seat walls—each element shaped by the client’s desire for informal gathering spaces and destinations to celebrate the views. Built forms draw from nature, with sinuous, overlapping walls that echo the tidal rhythms of the ocean below. Paving, composed of a mosaic of granite, finds its inspiration in the textures carved by coastal erosion and deposition along the shoreline. Traditional garden features such as fountains, an outdoor shower, and a solid stone fire pit are reimagined to reflect the rugged vernacular of the Big Sur coast.

_{*Big Sur Retreat was designed and completed while Michael was employed by Ground Studio.}