SOUTH BAY DIGS | Digital Edition Online

58 DIGS.NET | 5.16.25 S W E E T D I G S | 1 8 0 8 A N D 1 8 1 2 T H E S T R A N D structure was conceived as a fortress against the elements, and also functioned as a personal art gallery. "It was built to showcase a very extensive art collection that was built over the years," Kaminsky explains. "It's rare to find a home that has extensive walls for art, and this home was designed for that, along with the enjoy- ment of outside views." Concrete, as well as bold glass and steel elements, including a crystalline staircase and industrial-style windows, are softened by warm-hued wood interiors and porches to take in a bold spectrum of sea, sand and sky. Kaminsky recounts that the owner, who was the originator of this custom home, "was in the Navy, and he was a nautical guy, so he needed to be on the water." With nautical precision, he oriented the home at a slight angle in order to take advan- tage of a perfect southwest view—ideal for capturing sunsets. TURN OF THE CENTURY By contrast, the adjacent 1922 cottage represents a well-preserved capsule of early 20th century coastal architecture. "If you walked that home in 1922 when it was built and walked in today, I don't think it would look any different," the agent says of the 1-bedroom residence. "It is in pristine condition, down to it even having an ice box and the original stove from that era." Despite its compact footprint of about 1,000 square feet, the century old home creates an illusion of spaciousness. While the kitchen and bedroom are tucked in the rear of the home, the front of the home's emphasis is on the living room, which is sunlit and open, and facing the ocean— the perfect spot for savoring color-soaked sunsets. "It feels like you're living in 2,000 square feet of space," notes Kaminsky. "It's just most amazing little one-bed- room house that I've ever seen." While the Modernist home was designed for everyday living, the Craftsman structure was used more sparsely, as a beach dwelling for family get-togethers. (The properties have remained in the same family since 1985, with the second parcel acquired in 1999, and both have been maintained with metic- ulous care.) "The owner treated those homes like a fine boat, and had service people work- ing frequently over the years to protect them from the elements," Kaminsky recalls. Whether these distinctive properties are acquired individually or purchased by one person, and whether the homes are reimag- ined or preserved—the possibilities stretch as wide as the 66 feet of prime oceanfront that make up these two neighboring lots. A design enthusiast may choose to carry on its stark architectural contrast; LA modern and historic side by side. Or the future may lie in crafting a new property. "Someone who decides to purchase both can create a dream estate or family compound," the agent points out. Whatever the outcome, this rare duo presents not just a chance to own one of the brightest spots of California coastline—but an opportunity to be a part of its next chapter. A R C H I T E C T U R E + D E S I G N

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