Brake House

Santa Cruz, CA

An entirely new construction, the Brake House is a high-end modern custom residential home in Santa Cruz, CA designed by BARC Architecture. It is defined by the dynamic form of two opposing, bent metal roofs that interlock and open in strategic areas.

Project Details

Location: Santa Cruz, CA (Rodeo Gulch)
Project Type: Custom Residential / New Build
Square Footage: 3,200 sq ft

Collaborators

Architect: BARC Architecture
Principal: Daniel Barker
Interior Design: Viewpoint Interior Design
Structural: Element Structural Engineers
Contractor: REM

Detail of the Brake House exterior showing the metal roof braking into the wall, a signature of this modern Santa Cruz home.

Exterior angle of the Brake House in Santa Cruz, showcasing the opposing shed roofs and integration with the Rodeo Gulch watershed.

This architectural form allows the custom coastal residence to respond directly to its site conditions by centering the home around a side yard courtyard. This arrangement seamlessly opens the interior to the natural expanse of the Rodeo Gulch watershed, while still providing essential privacy and shelter from coastal elements.

Interior view of the Brake House featuring expansive south-facing windows that flood the coastal residence with natural light.

Interior architectural detail of the Brake House modern design and courtyard connection.

The metal roofs bend—or 'brake'—into walls that terminate directly into the earth, giving the structure a deeply planted, anchored feeling. Meanwhile, the vaulted shed roof opens expansively to the south to flood the interior with natural light.

Portrait view of the Brake House exterior, highlighting the seamless connection to the natural landscape.

Wide architectural view of the Brake House in Santa Cruz, CA, designed by BARC Architecture.

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