The Work

"Three umbrellas." A complex of five houses ringed around a large enclosed courtyard with pool, cantina and spa, at the top of Gentry Hill — Jacks Peak rising behind, panoramic Pacific views reaching to Santa Cruz.

Three giant Corten-steel roofs float free over the five buildings, giving the compound its name and its silhouette. A one-of-a-kind living environment for the Monterey Peninsula, custom-furnished throughout.

A fresh look for a California beach house, blending traditional construction with contemporary design — stucco walls and a whitewashed tile roof made modern, a walled property that opens fully to the Pacific.

Outdoor areas blend seamlessly for living and entertaining; the open-plan interior holds ocean vistas throughout. Most furniture is built in, using oblique angles to mould the space, then complemented with Mexican chairs, antique jars and found objects.

The makeover of an historic Hong Kong building into a contemporary bar and restaurant — named for the auspicious number 8. Sculptured Corten steel defines the space.

A khaki cast-concrete floor is inlaid with curved Douglas-fir "tusks" and plates of bronze, brass, aluminium and steel. Fabric-laminated tables and walls are hand-printed by Louise Mann; the chairs, tables and bars are fabricated from California recycled woods.

A penthouse conceived to showcase a client's art collection, set in a modern building built on a curve — a fan-shaped floor plan that the design follows rather than fights.

A stone-patterned concrete floor is cast into a grid of mahogany and steel. A curved Corten-steel wall separates the entry and private areas from the open live-work space. Furniture is designed by Ron in California woods; interior door and wardrobe finishes are by Louise Mann.

A spectacular hilltop property, conceived as a complete concept — every detail custom-designed to integrate site, architecture and interior, and designed around an outdoor lifestyle.

Realised in association with Blue Design, David MacDonald and Allen Martin Inc. A home where structure and terrain are inseparable — Ron Mann's ground-up philosophy at full scale.