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    cb4925d2 PDF

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    of 11
    Design Brochure | The Sea Ranch Guidelines for Design 1 12 Nomoraaneae do Contents An Introduction to The Sea Ranch Philosophy Design Review Professional Design Services Selecting a Design Consultant Your House at The Sea Ranch An Approach to Design Responding to Weather and Climate Fitting into the Landscape Designing a House to Reflect The Sea Ranch Philosophy Land Use Restrictions Sanitary Sewage, Tanks, Drainage and Wells Conclusion Acknowledgment The preparation of this Design Brochure has b devoted assistance of An Introduction to The Sea Ranch Philosophy ‘The Sea Ranch began as a wild and lovely section of the Northern California coast which had been Used for a hundred years or more by sheep Fanchers who had added to it only the cypress ‘windrows on the lower meadows and an occa: ‘sional barn. To introduce people and buildings in Such a place implies an awesome responsibility: itis s0 easy to destroy such b ‘Oceanic Properties Inc. acquired ‘Tho Sea Ranch, it accepted this responsibility, datermining to find and use the highest possible ‘standards lor development in order to preserve the special qualities and character of this beautiful area. Intensive studies of the area were commis: ‘sioned by Oceanic Properties, to determine its history, its physical characteristic ‘and, in some cases, unique veget "To make these studies, tho developer mont reports of these consultants. asic to the reports and the plans fs the idea that man and-nature can achieve a harmonious relationship where man-made buildings. the landscape instead of intruding on it, and that this relationship is possible it both the oveloper of the land and the owners of individual parcels of land adhere consietonty to it. This Drinciple of harmony between man and nature Was of such importance to the developer that Oceanic Properties commissioned s projects — the Hedgerow Houses and the first Condominiums — to give tangible, visible form to These frst structures — strong without being assertive, simple without being plain, respond 10 the spirit of the place, its ter withthe land, as the land seems at peace with them. Its the spirit, not the forms, of the structures, ‘and their response to natural rather than to ‘exotic conditions, that make The Sea Ranch ‘experience unforgettable. Here ie an “environ: ‘ment of escape,"a place outside the ordinary patter of living. Structures designed within this Spleit — strong, quit, simple, serene — will give Unity to development here, and will intensity the experience of being In and of a place unique because of Its sensitive use of natural beauty. “The purpose of this booklet is to assist owners to find for thelr own houses the same sensitive response to the special qualities of The Sea Ranch that the first Buildings show, within the context of the particular opportunities of ther sites {and of their individual needs, and to explain the Rostrictions and Rules which are, attr al Instruments for preservation and maintenance of duality and character, the very special reasons {or coming to and being at The Sea Ranch. Design Review find the unique potentials of each site and to provide them with Information on sito uso and ‘design which has accumulated over the years {rom tho experience ana observation of planning 1d design professionals who have worked on the Ranch, ‘A Design Committee made up of three persons — ‘atleast one of whom must be an architect — ‘administers this process as described in ‘Article Ill, Section 3.09(c). The process requires the owner to submit plans at two points: when the Preliminary plans are ready — early enough to protect the owner from having to make expen- ‘ive changes; and whon the Final plans aro ‘completed. At the Preliminary stage, drawings ‘should be complete enough to give a broad: brush pleture of all aspects of the design but without the detall which will be necessary in the final construction drawings. Inadequate informa: tion, hewever, can delay review of a proposed Based on the Conditions of approval forthe pr {al, final approval and issuance of a per build should follow without problem. ‘Approval process time varles with the adequacy andlor complexity of the design data and the Information submitted in support of them, and with submittals. ‘Receipt of a Permit by an owner should not be considered as merely license to build Its that, But itis also the sign of an obligation on the ‘owner's part to observe the Restrictions and Rules lwhich affect home building and ownership in The Sea Ranch community and to build the house as. approved. 1 changes from the approved plans are desired, the proposed revisions must be sub- mitted to the Design Committee for further Feview and approval Property owners who contemplate building, remodeling, addition, refinishing of reconstruction ‘should consult both the Restrictions, particu Articles Ill and IV, and an up-to-date set of the #2 Committee Rules. From time to timo, the Rules are changed to reflect new experience and to accommodate changing conditions, soit is ‘ssontial to check the most recent issue. indscape, and to ‘encourage and foster careful design so that there is harmony between the buildings and their sites ‘and among the bulldings themselves. As The Sea Ranch has grown, is relationship among the bulldings has become Increasingly important in the visual quality of the place, and must be ‘iven prime consideration in the design process. PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES ‘commended as a protection to the owner, who Seldom is conversant with the intricate processes and requirements — practical and technical as ‘well as esthetic — involved ina building project. Building plans are a precise instrument of com: munication; errors or inadequacies in them can 'be costly logal traps at contract time, An owner may, however, attempt his or her own design. Tithe design reflects an acceptable house ro competently executed, they will be accepted. Most owners are not sophisticated de signers, or familiar enough with the work involved ‘to prepare plans and specifications in a form ‘adequate for review procedures and for permi bilitis can bo of major Importance in realizing the special charactor and quality you want your hhouse to have. Whether you design your house yourself, or engage a professional to bring his ner {raining and experience to your project, thorough site investigation and careful consideration of needs are first steps toward a successtul design. SELECTING A DESIGN CONSULTANT ‘obtaining as full a knowledge es possible of hhimiher ae a person, and of his of her profes: sional qualifications, accomplishments and ropu tation. Before signing a contract, inquire of other clients what their experience has been. You can rotain a designer (licensed by the state, or un- by the state). ied, design protes: form only a drafting service for you. That wastes not only a sub- ‘stantial part ofthe fee you contract to pay, but the talent that could achieve a more satistectory fond result for you. It you elect fo do your own design, or to retain non-professional services, and tho result in elther ‘case cannot be approve Design Commit. {to9, the Committee has the right, in accordance with the Restrictions, to require that you utilize professional design services. ‘Arrangements as to fees oF other compensa tion for design service should be worked out by the persons involved. The Design Committee does not enter into these arrangements nor does advise on them. Your House at The Sea Ranch: AN APPROACH TO DESIGN ‘A g00d house reflects its locality, expressing its nse of the place in which it stands by its local conditions, with all thei limita. portunities. There is nothing row in thie: It has boon true of good houses ‘inoo the first man-made shelters were bull, At The Sea Ranch, this kind of house Is the ‘embodiment — the third dimension — of the basic design philosophy. Your ownership of property at The Sea Ranch indicates a strong ‘AHOUSE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS Before you start to design your house, or even sign consultant about design to find the answers to tance, how do you 1 The Sea Ranch? ‘That's a basic question. How much space do you ‘need — how many bedrooms, what sort of living dining.cooking arrangements, how many ths? What kind of outdoor space sults your ‘way of living? What is your budget? How will you he house? When you answer these and 42.900d many other questions, you will have a program” Tor beginning to design and plan your home on the site you have chosen. MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR SITE To take advantage of the special character of your lot, you should obtain a topographical ‘survey ofthe site s0 that you and your design Cconcultant will know the degree of slope, the brlontation, and the kind of terrain you have to work with ‘On the ocean terraces, its of extrome Importance to place houses in relation to the hedgerows so as to get the greatest advantage {rom the pattem of the windflow. On the wind- ward side of a hedgerow, eddying wind currents have an effect for a ground distance of 2 to 5 times the height of the hedgerow. On the lee sido, thore isa rolatively calm area which extends ‘ut from the hedgerow a distance of 5 10 6 times the height of the hedgerow. In the forest areas, buildings should be placed away from heavy tree growth s0 as to avoid ‘excessive shade and dampness. Its recom. ‘mended by the Design Committee that, in areas: ‘of heavy growth, the quality and longevity of, trees adjacent to your ite be assessed inorder te possible futu hhouse, it generally Is not necessary ‘To maintain the ideal of space flowing ree! ‘around the houses, itis desirable to avoid any Figid delineation of lot lines such as fences and landscape planting and maintenance up to and at the prope I purp« but they a ‘unimportant in an open ‘community ike The Sea Ranch, and so they should not be apparent. A ot line made vieiblo by extensive planting, gardening, clearing or mowing to the line eetablishes the “Totting”™ concept as precisely as a fence, and completely ‘denies the open-space philosophy which under- lies The Sea Ranch development. "As The Sea Ranch continues to grow, itis inevitable that new structures will have to relate to existing houses on neighboring late. The ‘existing houses are an increasingly important ‘loment in design and must be considered as ‘objects to be rotated to In order to maintain an ‘overall harmony in the area. As part ofthe site Investigation portion ofthe Preliminary Submit- {al to the Design Committee, a vicinity map is therefore required which should show the rela- tlonship ofthe proposed structure to neighbor Ing houses. sun wing RESPONDING TO WEATHER AND CLIMATE. ‘Sun, Wind, Rain and Fog are all part of The Sea Ranch, at different times of the year and in aitferent degrees of intensity a diferent places. Fog Each lot on the Ranch has its own particular microctimate. It is Important to know before designing a house, by experience if possible, ‘what kind of year-round climate conditions your building site has [At The Sea Ranch sun is a major factor in ‘docign. The sun's heat bullde up quickly in ‘south and west rooms with large glass areas, ‘specially at certain times of the year in specific locations. Even outdoors, in open but protect locations, the average Sea Ranch temperature of 65°F feels as comfortable as a normal room temperature of 70° t0 75°F. When major outdoor {garden areas are oriented directly to the south, they get the maximum amount of light and warmth from the sun. In the open grassland sections of The Sea Ranch, ‘Summer winds are most frequently from the north and northwest, winter winds from the south and southwest. They are almost always coo! nds, neither really cold nor really hol. Because ‘winds in these open areas are so often from the ‘orth and northwest, the areas which need pro- {ection should be located on the south side of buildings, fences or other windbreaks. Exper- Tencing the wind conditions on your site will hhalp you to make good design decisions for your Sites decisive alrtiows occasionally occur, 80 actual on-site investigation Is strongly recom ‘mended, How your house is designed and placed fon such alot can lessen the effect of the wind. Winds in the forest sections may blow strongly {teotop elevation, but at ground level they are usually gentl November through March isthe rainy period at ‘The Sea Ranch, but occasionally there are show: ‘ers during October and April. In an average year ‘annual rainfall is about 45 inches, but there may bbe as little as 20 inches in one year out of ten, and occasionally as much as 80 inches. A ralt- ‘storm can drop two or three inches in a hour ‘ras much as 7 to 15 inches for its duration. ‘The weather tends to clear rapidly after a storm and ~ unlike the San Francisco Bay area and the Delta region of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Va ley, it remains oalm between storms. present along the entire Northom Callfornia coast. The Sea Ranch has less of it ‘than the areas just north and just south, and the late spring and early fall months are gonerally {ogstree. When there Is fog, it usually occurs in the morning and burns off during the alternoon. ‘On the average, fog occurs only three or four days a month and Is most frequent during the ‘summer months. FITTING INTO THE LANDSCAPE Native shrubs and indigenous trees and ground ‘cover abound at The Sea Ranch and contribute ‘much to the natural beauty of the place. These Include, on the leve-to-olling meadows and foot hills, Bunch grasees, wild iri, and flowering herbs; and on tho stoop hillsides, forests of redwood, Bishop pine and fir. A program of protective proservation by the daveloper and the ‘Aseociation has thinned the forest and restrains lundergrowth by clearing, and has brought back the grasslands on the meadows ttre cotury of use for truck gardens and sheep gi ‘Some vegetation, indigenous but not rly native, lurallzed since its Introduction recommendations: Build on the sheltered sido of a site, leay- ing the windward side undisturbed () Pro- ‘serve the natural ground cover as much ae possible, for its own sake as well as to minimize erosion — a major problem in Genuded hilly aroas ) Protect existing trees ‘wherever possible () Lay out leach lines, sepile tanks and other structures with trae protection in mind (3 For clearance around trees, use the rule-of-thumb “one foot of distance for each inch of diameter of the tree trunk” (> Keep all landscape plans. ,n harmony with the ‘environment, using plant materiale in- digenous to the Ranch. Remember that only rees and shrubs which are indigenous to the Ranch may exceed the height of 8 feet, (Restrictions, .02(@)) and no {ree over 6 inches in diameter at a ground level and 6 feot in hoight may be removed without prior approval of the Design Committee. (Re- Strictions, 3.03 (6X4) For a complete listing of indigenous trees and ‘shrubs, 600 the curront amendment to Exhibit C (of The Sea Ranch Restrictions. Zonal lists of indigenous ground covers, shrube ‘and treee — now an official extension of The ‘Soa Ranch Restrictions as part of the Design ‘Committee Rules — may be obtained from the Design Committee. For more on protection of trees during con- ‘struction, soe The Sea Ranch Association Bulletin P-1. See also the paragraphs on Sewage Disposal Siie Rehabilitation and Tanks on page Wot this brochut DESIGNING A HOUSE TO REFLECT THE SEA RANCH PHILOSOPHY ‘Ono of the tenets of The Sea Ranch philosophy is “freedom within agreed-on restraints.” But itis esential to understand the restraints as pro- fections tor the special qualities that make The ‘Sea Ranch so desirable a place to be In, and the {reedom as a responsibilty to achieve individuality within the limitations agreed to in becoming a property owner. When viewed as tools of good Sesign, which they were tobe, the Rules ‘and Restrictions are steps toward the harmon. Tous relationship of man and nature — man living with nature with @ minimum of intrusion — that Ie tho foundation of The Sea Ranch philosophy. Houses and buildings which demand attention by ‘exotic forms and finishes are Intrusions and are inapprop. ‘That there Is ample opportunity tor good, even ‘excellent, design within the philosophy and the ‘egulations is obvious from the prestigious ‘ational, regional and local awards made to Sea Ranch houses. A tour of these houses, viewing them from the exterior, should be a thought. provoking and stimulating experience. But do not fry to imitate of copy thei of their dotals. They ‘and your site are not likely to be theirs. What Is to be emulated isthe spirit ot thelr design, the feeling of unity withthe land that they evoke. ‘A digest follows of some of the Restrictions (-protections”) and of a number of Design Com- mittee recommendations which are pertinent to Height Limit Root Slope Root Forme and Materials

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