A contemporary barn crafted from metal and concrete, designed to be fire-resistant and resilient against the challenges of climate change, serves as a retreat nestled in the verdant hills of Montecito, California, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. This is the vision behind Los Angeles-based Jamie Bush’s redesign of the Spanish-Mediterranean style home, which was destroyed by fire in 2017 and is owned by a family of entrepreneurs and prominent contemporary art collectors.

Bush’s ultimate goal for the project was to “create something that had both a hard shell and a softer core”, to enhance the homeowners’ incredible art collection. While the exterior featured interlocking metal panels in an industrial shell, the interiors were designed to contrast with a softer warmth, using natural materials and pops of yellow, red, and blue on the walls, ceilings, and furnishings throughout the home. Flooded with natural light, even the dining area joins this conversation between art and design. The stainless steel Convivium island by Arclinea is paired with a natural oak table; the columns, with Italia handles, are in a soft, warm white hue. Pure design and neutral tones harmonize with bold, colorful furnishings, suggesting lively moments of sharing and connection.

The house opens up to the visual narrative of the surrounding natural landscape, through its expansive windows. One of the most exquisite points to enjoy this view is the oak bathtub located on a glass-enclosed balcony, overlooking the pool and the lush vegetation beyond. This uniquely original, architecturally rigorous construction, which establishes a new agrarian building type, has captivated the owners, who, despite having residences all over the world, consider this house as their primary home.