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The Sunny Charms of a Sustainable California House

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Architect David Hertz built this sweet home for his own family in Venice, California.

The McKinley Residence (named after the street) is built to test sustainable building techniques like the use of thermal sinks and and rooftop gardening.

The house was recently on the West Side Home Tour, for its early ideas about green building.

It was also made an appearance on the TV series Californication.

Despite its now tried and true ideas, the house is hardly a sterile lab of a testing ground though.

Charming spots throughout celebrate the truly good life in southern California.

There’s a little bit of a New Age Zen feeling…

A master bedroom that is an enticing place for an afternoon nap.

A a moment of delight: chunky plank stairs seen against greenery glimpsed through a glazed wall.

A pool setting that seems designed to encourage easy and casual chat amongst friends and neighbours.

Multiple attractive gathering spots encourage the ease of casual California-style entertaining.

Set in the sunbaked terrace, the dark and cool shaded pool is enticing, rather than an afterthought.

Large overhead skylights bring the brilliance of the midday sun streaking in across the bathroom walls.

Its unusual sky lighting brings the glorious California sunshine into every nook and cranny.

This extensive overhead glazing and concrete floor ensures a thermal sink for warming the house in winter.

It is a house that is casual and gorgeous, and sustainable too in very California way.