A Montecito Home Inspired by Catalan Architect Antoni Gaudí Is Listed for $45,000 per Month
Fans of Antoni Gaudí’s World Heritage sites such as the Sagrada Familia and Casa Mila in Barcelona can now bask in the celebrated Catalan architect’s influence without jetting off to Spain. A captivating rental set in Montecito, the celeb-approved seaside California town where Charlie Chaplin opened the landmarked Montecito Inn, now offers access to a fantastical, Gaudí-inspired abode with panoramic ocean and coastline views.
Designed by architect Frank Robinson and built for a local sailing legend, the mountaintop home was built in 1980 and presides over more than 13 rugged acres. Three bedrooms and four baths are spread out over the 3,412-square-foot main residence that’s been nicknamed “Castle in the Sky,” a clever match given that the sky-high aerie provides majestic vistas over the Pacific Ocean. The pad’s many other eclectic finishes and flourishes, ranging from tiled mosaics to a pool with built-in seating, are other key highlights. Once listed for $1.7 million, the one-of-a-kind home can now be rented for $45,000 a month. Jody Neal of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties holds the unique listing.
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Robinson prioritized sustainability in the design. Adobe brick, known for its insulating properties, was used for the exterior of the home, while a solar system allows it to go “off-grid” for self-sufficient living, according to marketing material.
The architect’s creative expression fully unfolds in the interior. The curvy countertops featured in spaces like the kitchen and the primary bedroom, the arched windows, and vibrant ceiling artworks evoke Gaudí’s work, which famously plays with texture and form. Flagstone flooring and exposed adobe brick walls, alongside interestingly adorned vaulted ceilings, allow the interiors to feel like an extension of the natural surroundings.
The home’s full character is on display in the light-filled primary bedroom and en-suite bath. The room is designed in a rotunda and features a round, built-in platform bed and a small attached desk area optimally positioned for watching the clouds skate across a picture window. The bathroom features an oversized walk-in shower and a swooping ceiling overhang that echoes a breaking wave.
A studio apartment for guests or staff, several large fireplaces, and a “secret” tunnel entrance from the two-car garage are other interior standouts. The stone patio outdoors, meanwhile, feels like a continuation of the living space with plenty of room for loungers. A free-from swimming pool encircles the terrace, and a secluded hot tub grotto is well positioned for taking in the view.
The home’s lively, indiosyncratic design won’t be everyone’s residential cup of tea, but there’s no question the powerful setting forces all to be present and in tune with the Olympian view and natural surroundings.
Click here for more images of the Montecito home.
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