Muir Beach, California

Located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the guest house serving the Green Gulch Zen Center is sensitively designed to minimize its visibility and physical impact on site.

The octagonal plan and simple elegance of the twelve-room guest house reflect the Asian origins of Buddhism. The building's centering geometry is further articulated by a two story central core, used as a gathering and meeting space.

The design of the guest house supports and respects human search for beauty. Handcrafted Japanese joinery is used throughout the house with strict attention to detail. The building incorporates recycled timbers and a passive solar heating system designed to meet human needs without destroying the fabric of the living world. The Green Gulch guest house is a truly peaceful place.