This $5 Million Santa Barbara Loft Was Designed By a Prominent Local Architect as His Personal Home
Santa Barbara is prized for its Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture and its near-perfect coastal climate. At the heart of the seaside city, just a couple of blocks from the beach, in what’s known as the Funk Zone for its lively art galleries, boutiques, wine tasting rooms, restaurants, and charming hotels, is something a little different than the charming bungalows and palatial mansions that are more commonly found around town.
On Anacapa Street is a one-of-a-kind loft recently listed for $5 million with Village Properties/Luxury Portfolio International. It was designed by architect Robin Donaldson, co-founder of Donaldson+Partners, as his personal residence. Though technically considered a condo, it is the only residence on the parcel. The home spans 3,100 square feet with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus a studio space with its own bathroom. Should the place sells for at or close to asking, it will be the most expensive condo ever sold in Santa Barbara.
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Set back from the street behind two private gates, the industrial-style home is ensconced with native trees to shield it from its close neighbors. The main level features a two-car garage, which houses the private workshop, and a double-height foyer with an elevator and staircase that lead to the second and third floors, as well as a spacious office and full bathroom.
The second level houses the primary bedroom, which takes up one wing, while the three additional bedrooms are filtered across the remainder of the floor. Three of the four bedrooms have private balcony access. There’s also a bonus room on this level, perfect as a hobby studio, children’s playroom, or even a gym.
The communal spaces, an open-plan living room, a dining area, and a sleek kitchen, are placed on the uppermost level to capture the most available light and airflow. There are soaring ceilings with exposed joists, plywood floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. The kitchen has jet-black custom cabinetry, Wolf appliances, and a snack counter. Sliding glass doors open to a massive deck, one of the highlights of the home, that offers lots of lounge space, a fire pit, an al fresco dining spot, and fabulous views of the ocean, the downtown core, and the surrounding mountains. Finally, the upper rooftop deck has solar panels and a rooftop cedar soaking tub with wraparound views.
Donaldson primarily works on high-end residential and commercial projects in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. One of his most recent notable projects is Hill House in Montecito, designed for Lynda Weinman, founder of online software training website Lynda.com, and her husband, Bruce Heavin.
Click here for more photos of the triplex loft .
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