Context & Client Goals

Set on a fire-prone hillside in Malibu, the design challenge was to create a restorative retreat that would both embrace its dramatic coastal surroundings and meet stringent fire safety requirements. The client envisioned a space where indoor and outdoor environments could merge—enhancing wellness, offering flexible programming, and capturing the ethereal connection to sky and sea.

Design response

To meet these goals, Archetype Design Collective implemented a lightweight, Class A-rated structure with an ETFE roof system and fire-resistant wall assemblies—engineered to withstand the California climate while celebrating the openness of the coastal site. The roof mimics the motion of a cresting wave, and beneath it, a seashell-toned limestone floor grounds the interior with organic warmth. Interior foliage softens thresholds between indoor and outdoor space, while advanced HVAC systems maintain year-round comfort.

A cantilevered pool deck floats above a fully integrated wellness center, anchored by an acrylic water feature that doubles as a skylight. The spa experience includes an infrared sauna, steam shower, and hot/cold plunge—evoking a tranquil bathing ritual. Adjacent, a flexible office or home theater transitions into a gym and kitchenette, with hidden guest accommodations seamlessly woven into the program. This dynamic layout allows the residence to adapt to entertainment, work, or rest, while remaining grounded in peace and purpose.

Signature Feature

ETFE roof system and Class A-rated wall assemblies

Coastal-inspired seashell limestone flooring

Integrated wellness center with spa amenities

Acrylic water feature skylight

Flexible interior layout for office, theater, gym, and guest use

Smart HVAC and climate systems

Biophilic elements to blur indoor-outdoor boundaries

Outcome

Tranquillo is more than a residence—it’s a sensory retreat, designed to align architecture with atmosphere. Through layered textures, adaptive programming, and elemental awareness, it embodies a new model for wellness-oriented, fire-resilient coastal living.

Atl text

A Malibu wellness retreat featuring a fire-resistant ETFE roof with views of the Pacific Ocean.

Limestone flooring and interior foliage create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.

The spa includes an acrylic skylight, infrared sauna, and plunge pools beneath the deck.

A cantilevered pool deck hovers above the Wellness Center with panoramic coastal views