This net-zero Big Sur home has enough power to charge EVs

Studio Schicketanz, led by Mary Ann Schicketanz, has designed a beautiful, net-zero home in Big Sur with views of the Pacific Ocean. The low-profile home, created for a Silicon Valley-based family, blends into a grassy hillside. What was initially planned as a weekend vacation house turned into a dreamy pandemic getaway home, where the family can enjoy the ocean-front pool.

A home surrounded by grass.

The designers created this net-zero house with high-end finishes with pieces from Coup D’etat, Larsen, Moooi, Miele, Brizio, Tai Ping, Giorgetti, Pindler and more. The pool includes petrified wood stumps by Leos Enderle and Rodney Hunter, adding to the rustic natural materials on site.A sculptural art piece by Eric Gushee and Casey McCafferty and pieces by Silvia Poloto are found throughout the home. The beds, ottomans, bookcases and media cabinets were custom made for the space.

An outdoor patio area.

Using local granite from Hollister, California, the home’s rock walls blend in with the surrounding landscape. Plaster was used for the “cubes” placed in front of the rock walls. Savannah Brown Duras flagstone connects the entryway and complements the stone used for the walls. While the home’s exterior was kept in neutral, the interior has pops of color from custom mosaic walls with Venetian plaster accent walls to match.

An aerial view of an outdoor patio area.

The project achieves net-zero status by using solar panels and Tesla Power Walls to heat the pool and help power the home. The power produced on-site can cover all the home’s energy requirements with leftover to spare for charging two electric vehicles. More designs like this may be on the way as EVs become the norm and clients seek reliable infrastructure for their vehicles.

A living room with open sliding glass doors.

Consideration for stylish finishes and lifestyle features elevate this design. As this project demonstrates, Studio Schicketanz takes a thoughtful approach “to landscape, architecture, and interior design, with a focused emphasis on livability.”

+ Studio Schicketanz

Images via Joe Fletcher Photography

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