Influential industrial designer and entrepreneur Thomas Meyerhoffer is selling his iconic California beach home — the only Bay Area residence designed by world-renowned architect Michael Maltzan — for $2.95 million, according to Compass real estate firm.
Meyerhoffer worked on numerous projects for startup firms and global brands while living in the Montara, California, home, including his alternative shaped surfboards, which he tested at the world-class surf breaks along the West Coast from Santa Cruz to San Francisco.
Meyerhoffer created the first wraparound ski goggles, developed Apple’s first translucent computer, and designed cybercurrency Worldcoin’s eyescanning Orb.
Montara sits about 21 miles south of San Francisco.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 1241 Main St. spans 2,470 square feet. An offer is already pending less than two weeks after the listing.
The residence was featured in Dwell magazine when it was completed in 2006. Maltzan converted a simple 30-by-30-foot cinder block house into a modern masterpiece while retaining the original home’s humble “coastal vibe.”
“It’s truly a one-of-a-kind home with a modern-meets-coastal vibe,” said Stephanie Sills, Compass listing agent. “It was designed for Meyerhoffer’s love of the outdoors, and the property honors its natural surroundings with its floor-to-ceiling windows and architectural style. The location also fits the property perfectly since Montara is a laid-back town where people from all over enjoy surfing, hiking, and biking.”
Maltzan, Meyerhoffer’s brother-in-law, has received numerous architectural accolades throughout his career, including five Progressive Architecture awards, 42 citations from the American Institute of Architects and the Rudy Bruner Foundation’s Gold Medal for Urban Excellence. His early projects include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, where he worked with Frank Gehry, and MOMA QNS in New York. In 1995, he founded Michael Maltzan Architecture.
The Swedish-born Meyerhoffer has lived in the house with his family for more than 20 years. He commissioned Maltzan to build the residence.
On the first story, an open living area with a kitchen and dining room features radiant floors and warm Douglas fir on the walls and the ceilings. A sunken living room centers around one of the residence’s three fireplaces.
Floor-to-ceiling windows and the wood ceiling “harmonize beautifully with the concrete floors,” according to the listing.
Large sliding doors open to a private spacious courtyard with olive trees, a triangular sail covering and ocean views. A downstairs corridor lets in natural light and leads to a guest bedroom, bath and office spaces.
On the top floor, a triangular sunroom is suited for practicing yoga, meditating or checking out the waves. That space is connected to a capacious primary bedroom with a gas fireplace and two decks with dramatic views of the ocean and Montara Mountain.
The large yard is walled.
The home is just two blocks from great surfing and fishing at Montara State Beach.
This story was originally published April 1, 2022 1:53 PM.
David Caraccio is a video producer for The Sacramento Bee who was born and raised in Sacramento. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and longtime journalist who has worked for newspapers as a reporter, editor, page designer and digital content producer.