The 1970s brought a wave of architectural ingenuity. Designers were experimenting with colors, shapes, and styles that still stand today to remind us of the experimental era. One architect got super groovy in Santa Barbara when creating this shingled masterpiece, now seeking $3.25 million.
Dubbed ‘The Whale House,’ the circa-1978 dwelling looks other-worldly and instantly transports you to an unfamiliar, new place far away from what you know. Designed by Michael Carmichael, the residence is somewhat of an interactive exhibit created in the shape of a whale. The entrance kickstarts the adventure. What more fitting way to step inside then through the ‘whale’s mouth’?
Once inside, unique stonework and beams build upon the natural elements that surround the home, from oaks to sycamore trees. Cedar shingles carry along the walls, making somewhat of an optical illusion as you travel through the home’s 2,600 square feet. Although not a typical family home so to speak, there are three bedrooms and four bathrooms to accommodate visitors. As you explore the curving spaces inside and out, full of twists and turns, baby-proofing certainly may emerge as a challenge but older children would surely feel like they are in a magical place here.
Several carefully placed details make the home an adult’s playground, too. Swim like a whale in the 75-foot lap pool, which winds like a lagoon and eventually flows into a private grotto, the whale’s tail. Other remarkable architectural feats of the home include 270 Belgian leaded and stained-glass windows and a rock-covered elevator shaft.
Daniel Carpenter of Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.
