Anders Lasater, owner of Anders Lasater Architects, and Sandra Vila, owner of Sandra Vila Design, saw one man’s neglected 1960s hillside home as a treasure to be restored. This breathtaking oceanfront property defies expectations and exists as a testament to what can happen when creative limitations spark extraordinary design.
“This house is special because it shouldn’t exist,” says Lasater. “By all rules, it ought not to be there anymore, but we were able to transform this little ’60s cracker box tract house into the beautiful estate it is today.”
According to Iconic Life, The property’s unusual backstory began more than a decade ago when Lasater designed a remodel for the previous owners. That project was abandoned and the house sat mothballed for years until the current owner—a boating enthusiast with a Florida residence—purchased it in its unfinished state. What could have been a simple completion turned into a complete reimagining.
Lasater reflects that the project’s success stems from the creative tension between preservation and innovation. “When you
have resistance, then you have the opportunity for direction,” he says. “It’s the resistance that allows you to change course.”
The result is a one-of-a-kind California coastal home that feels like a perpetual vacation—a modern sanctuary where ocean views stretch from Dana Point to Palos Verdes, and every design element celebrates the beauty of coastal living.
