Ray Kappe had a rare gift for making modern architecture feel warm, inviting, and utterly of its place. This vibe is exactly what you get in a Marina del Rey beachfront home, where light, space, and the Pacific Ocean are as integral to Kappe’s design as the nails and screws, and where every corner is thoughtfully composed to enhance the natural surroundings.
Upon entering, your eyes are immediately drawn upward by soaring wood ceilings and clerestory windows, while towering walls of glass frame sweeping ocean and horizon views. Like the tides, the house is designed for effortless movement and flow. With two oceanfront living rooms, multiple terraces, and a chef’s kitchen that opens to the sea, it’s easy to transition from morning breakfast to sunset cocktails without ever losing sight of the beach. Of course, there’s direct beach access, and the vibrant communities of Venice, Santa Monica, and Silicon Beach are just a short drive away.
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The multilevel condo opens to a series of ocean-facing terraces.
Jason Ragle
Spanning just over 3,000 square feet on a 7,400-square-foot lot, the condo, one of the three residences that comprise the 1973 beachfront building, has been carefully updated while preserving Kappe’s signature touches. Every detail feels deliberate yet easy and unforced. Now on the market with Cory Weiss of Douglas Elliman for a speck under $7 million, it’s a rare chance to live in a sun-filled structure that’s as much a work of art as a place to call home.
Kappe’s impact goes beyond any one house. As a co-founder of SCI-Arc and a key figure in Southern California modernism, his homes continue to set the standard for how light, space, and the outdoors can coexist, influencing generations of architects and shaping the region’s architectural identity.
Signature Kappe elements include soaring, ceilings, extensive woodwork, and walls of glass.
Jason Ragle
Several other Kappe-designed homes have recently surfaced for sale. A four-bedroom, LEED Gold–certified modernist in Santa Monica Canyon, completed in 2012, is currently listed for $10 million and features ocean-view terraces, a rooftop deck with a fire pit, and a floating staircase anchored by a striking Corten steel fireplace. And, across town, a pair of midcentury condos in the Hollywood Hills came to market last year for a combined $1.9 million.
Click here to see more photos of the Marina del Rey home.
Jason Ragle
Authors
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Abby Montanez
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