In Stillness & Motion

Perched along the iconic shores of Malibu, the Sandcastle House is more than just an architectural landmark—it’s a love letter in wood, stone, and sweeping curves. Designed in the 1970s by visionary California architect Harry Gesner, the home was built for his wife, actress Naan Martin, after he famously proposed: "Marry me and I’ll build you your dream house." What followed is one of Malibu’s most romantic and imaginative beachfront residences. This structure fuses organic architecture, mid-century modernism, and freeform bohemian coastal design into a home that feels sculpted by the tide itself.

As both filmmaker and architectural photographer, my approach to documenting the Sandcastle House was to honor its fluid forms, natural textures, and intimate relationship with the ocean. I leaned into the home’s rhythmic geometry and ambient light, using slow, intentional motion to capture the way shadows play across the curved cedar shingle exterior, rounded walls, and porthole windows. This wasn’t just a structure to document—it was a living, breathing space, one that reflects Gesner’s deep respect for the land and sea, and his philosophy of building in harmony with both.

True to that ethos, Gesner sourced reclaimed materials and salvaged wood, including old telephone poles repurposed as structural elements—adding soul, story, and sustainability to the home’s construction. His preference for found materials wasn’t just practical, it was poetic—a way of weaving forgotten fragments of California’s past into a new, deeply personal narrative.

From its barrel-vaulted ceilings and handcrafted detailing to its immersive views of the Pacific, the Sandcastle House remains one of Harry Gesner’s most intimate and imaginative works—equal parts surf shack, sculpture, and sanctuary. It continues to inspire lovers of architecture, design, and California modernism, standing as a monument to creativity, craftsmanship, and enduring love.