In Big Sur, an Eco-Friendly Showstopper Boasts Heart-Stopping Coastal Views

One of the downfalls of living on the coast is the wind. Without any landforms to slow it down, winds can whip off the ocean at astonishing speeds, causing mayhem on land. But that’s not an insurmountable problem for a carefully conceived house snuggled into the Big Sur coast of California. As detailed in Mansion Global, the unimproved land went unsold for years because of the ferocious gusts off the Pacific. But that just struck the owners and architect as a challenge, who then produced this amazing residence, now for sale asking $35 million. It’s listed with Michael Gilson and Ben Heinrich, both of Coldwell Banker Realty.

Set on 109 acres at Cooper Point, the house has grass on top to create a cozy, insulated, green roof. (Anyone else thinking “Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-laa, and Po...”?) There’s also a well for water and solar panels to boost the home’s eco credentials.

The house was built by venture capitalist Bob Pavey and wife Trisha Pavey. Having purchased the land in the 1990s, and commissioned acclaimed (and recently deceased) local architect Mickey Muennig to design the residence, it took seven years to get the necessary approvals and building work done. Building along the California coast is not, you can see, for the faint-hearted.

While extremely interesting architecturally, the main house itself is not huge, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms in just 2,700 square feet. The wine cellar and double-sided steel and concrete fireplace are standouts. Outside, there’s an outdoor shower shaped like a nautilus shell, perfect after a day on the local white sandy beach, as well as a stainless steel hot tub, perfect for foggy mornings and star-gazing on clear and crisp evenings.

Guests are accommodated in a separate one-bedroom structure and cars in the four-car garage. Of course, this being Big Sur, the highlight of the property are the heart-stopping views of land and sea, both from inside and outside.

If all this isn’t enough to preside over and manage, promo materials note the “property’s 3 separate parcels may provide an additional homesite for development.” Sounds like a lot of work and years of haggling with the mighty California Coastal Commission. Feh! Maybe just sit in that hot tub, and enjoy the solitude and scenery.