ArchitecTours 2025
The American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara is proud to announce its 16th annual ArchitecTours, this year themed ‘Living Architecture: Santa Barbara.’ The tour offers a curated exploration of the city’s distinctive architectural landscape, highlighting residential, commercial, and public spaces that define Santa Barbara living.
Participants will experience homes nestled in the tranquil foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains, sun-drenched coastal retreats, and thoughtfully designed commercial and public spaces. Each site demonstrates the interplay of design, functionality, and environment, reflecting the creativity and craftsmanship that shape the city’s built environment.
From private residences to dynamic workplaces and community gathering spaces, attendees will gain an insider’s perspective on how timeless architectural principles harmonize with modern innovation. The tour celebrates the ways in which architecture influences daily life, fosters community, and defines the unique character of Santa Barbara.
About ArchitecTours
ArchitecTours is an annual event presented by the American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara, offering the public a rare opportunity to explore the region’s exceptional architecture. Each year, the tour highlights both historic and contemporary projects, celebrating the artistry and vision of Santa Barbara’s built environment. The self-guided in-person tour offers a rare opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at exceptional properties, making architecture more accessible to the public. Tour participants will observe first-hand how architects transform ordinary spaces into impactful environments.
August 29 Early bird tickets go on sale
September 19 Regular Ticket Pricing
October 4 10.00 am – 4.00 pm ArchitecTours
October 4 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm ArchitecTours Party
Tickets
Early Bird tickets are on sale from August 29th-September 18th!
– Early Bird AIA Members & Seniors (65+): $70
– Early Bird General Public: $80
Starting September 19th:
– AIA Members & Seniors: $85
– General Public: $95
– Students: $35
– AIA Associate Members: $35
Wrist Band and Tour Brochure Check-In
Your wrist band is your ticket to each location and the party. You can pick up your tour brochure and wrist band on the dates below, at AIA Santa Barbara, 229 East Victoria Street, Santa Barbara 93101. We are on the corner of Garden and Victoria – enter through Garden Street.
Wednesday, October 1st, through Friday, October 3th, 9.30 am – 11.00 am
The morning of the tour Saturday, October 4th, 9.00 am – 11.00 am ArchitecTours starts at 10.00 am.
Volunteer
Interested in volunteering for the 2025 ArchitecTours? This is a great opportunity to support & explore Architecture in our community. With your volunteer participation, you receive a complimentary ticket to attend ArchitecTours on Oct 4, 10 am – 4 pm and the party. Once you have signed up to volunteer we will send you an email with the address and details of your volunteer position. Reach out to info@aiasb.com with any questions about volunteering.
Media
Projects
Alston Road Residence
Architect: A34 Studio
The existing 70 year old home had never undergone any previous remodels, therefore was in need of an extensive opportunity-and-constraints study. The owners, entering the next phase of their lives, envisioned a home that would support their future while strengthening the connection to the surrounding landscape.
As empty nesters, the owners had no need for additional square footage. Instead, their focus was on rethinking the functional layout to better support daily living, while maintaining the comfort, security, and sense of familiarity. Our goal became to enhance the residences’ livability for their future years and seamlessly engage their landscape to create an indoor-outdoor relationship while honoring the memories and emotional connections to the home.
Our team at A34 Studio believes that the first and best approach to sustainability is to re-use and adapt as much of the existing home as possible. Our design solution embraced a restrained and simplified use of a high quality material palette that is designed around longevity and timelessness, prioritizing quality and craft over ease and speed.
Barker Pass Residence
Architect: A34 Studio
Set on the corner of two busy streets, this 40-year-old home no longer met the needs of a young, active couple, their three sons, and their dog. Over the years, the house had been altered and expanded without ever establishing a cohesive relationship to its site.
Our goal was to reconnect the residence to its surroundings while supporting a contemporary lifestyle. To achieve this, we introduced an “urban forest” along the front of the residence—providing both a buffer from the street and an on-site stormwater management system. The addition of landscaping helps create a strong indooroutdoor relationship, creating privacy without limiting the use of glass or requiring the need for shades.
The ‘gut-renovation’ of the existing house consisted of a reconfiguration of the layout to improve the flow between the existing program, enhanced outdoor living space as well as the addition of a master suite, playroom, guest suite, and gym. Our use of a minimal material palette keeps the focus on the interior volumes and their relationship to the outdoors. The result is a project that is simple yet very intentional, serving as a backdrop to both the landscape and the lifestyle of its inhabitants.
Blufftop Estate on the Santa Barbara Coast
Architect: Ochsner Architects
Perched on one of the most coveted stretches of coastline in Santa Barbara, this reimagined blufftop estate seamlessly blends cutting-edge design with coastal elegance. The extensive renovation preserved the original shell and footprint of the residence while transforming its architecture and interiors into a modern showpiece.
The home was taken down to the studs, allowing for a completely new floor plan that emphasizes spacious, openconcept living areas oriented toward the ocean. Structural steel framing was integrated throughout to support expansive, uninterrupted ceiling planes on both levels, reinforcing the home’s clean, contemporary lines.
Floor-to-ceiling operable glass doors and windows dissolve the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living, framing panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and lush landscaping. A striking double-height volume connects the main living space to an upper-level sitting area, where an operable glass wall welcomes in the westerly breeze.
The southern yard is a botanical haven, densely planted with a curated mix of tropical and Mediterranean species. Winding paths lead to a stunning oceanfront deck perched at the edge of the bluff. Just below, a secluded grotto room offers a one-of-a-kind vantage point to take in the coastline, beach, and the channel beyond—a private retreat carved into nature itself.
Anacapa Architecture Office
Architect: Anacapa Architecture
The new Anacapa Architecture & Interior Design studio is a vibrant creative workspace designed to foster collaboration and artistic exploration. Anchored by an outdoor courtyard created in partnership with Ground Studio, the project contributes to the energy of State Street while offering a welcoming hub for community and design culture. Serving as both workshop and showcase, the studio reflects Anacapa’s dedication to crafting bespoke luxury residences and experiential hospitality environments.
Harbor Hills Residence
Architect: Dennis Thompson, AIA
This 1970s-era custom home, while structurally sound and blessed with stunning ocean and mountain views, suffered from a disjointed layout and limited space. With only two bedrooms spread across three staggered levels and a loft, it lacked the flow and functionality desired by its new owners. The design team responded by reconfiguring the home into a cohesive, single-level layout. Two covered patios were enclosed to create a third bedroom and bath, while a new large patio cover maintained outdoor living space. Removing interior walls and columns opened the main living area, enhancing light, views, and circulation.
The updated design embraces an organic contemporary aesthetic—crisp white walls, clean lines, and sun-bleached wood tones balanced by imperfect textures, muted coastal hues, and dark accents. Custom cabinetry and eclectic, comfortable furnishings support both relaxation and entertaining. Every window now captures a connection to nature. The renovation integrates healthy, sustainable strategies: a tightly sealed and insulated envelope with a ventilated rain screen, high-performance windows, and balanced mechanical ventilation ensures comfort and energy efficiency. This transformation celebrates simplicity, sustainability, and seamless connection to place— revitalizing a dated structure into a timeless coastal retreat.
Hotel Santa Barbara
Architect: DMHA Architecture + Interior Design
From the corner of State and Cota Streets, Hotel Santa Barbara stands as one of the most iconic buildings in our Downtown core. The beautiful and articulate ornament of this 1920’s structure reflects the wave of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture that swept through the community at the time and continues to define the unique character that Santa Barbara embraces today.
A full facelift of the historic exterior has already been completed and a fully renovated interior remodel is nearly finished transforming this once tired and dated facility into premier accommodations for discerning visitors to the City. The entire first floor lobby has been reconfigured and refinished, improving the overall experiences for guests and adding a beautiful semi-public space to be discovered by locals and visitors alike as they explore State Street. Within the remodeled lobby space, new amenities for the public including a remodeled meeting room to gather downtown. For the guests, a new breakfast bar, reimagined reception as well as a fitness room provide an upscale hotel experience. The fully renovated guest rooms on the second, third and fourth floors have recently been completely transformed and are waiting to be revealed to the general public.
Ocean Residence
Architect: Design Arc
Located in a secluded cove between the Pacific ocean and the Santa Ynez mountain range in Montecito California, this 4000 sf ocean-centric home is the Architectural manifestation of dreamy California coastal indoor-outdoor living! The home celebrates the challenge of the vertical narrow site with a dramatic black stainless steel open stair system descending 30 feet from the modest northern entry above to sea level and open air living / kitchen space three levels below. As the stairway descends it projects through the glass façade with a ‘bowsprit’ reminiscent of the iconic prows of sword fishing vessels which navigate the SB channel. The home is a collage of masses assembled from concrete, plaster, wood and glass with dramatic ocean vistas from every room! The ‘Primary’ light filled second level bedroom enjoys a private deck with open air private lounge and fire pit. The central living / kitchen area is wide open to the ocean with its south facing thermory wood decking, stainless spa, and 30’ tall cascading stair above. You are essentially ‘on the beach’ when one opens the vertical 12’ tall Acoya wood pocketing sliders. From the water the home has an elegant warm contemporary feel and the horizontal shape of the primary deck intersecting the more vertical wooden structure gives the home a dynamic presence and locks it into this incredible oceanic location.
Ospi Restaurant at the Post
Architect: Warner Group Architects
Ospi Montecito offers a refined take on Italian coastal dining, nestled beside the scenic bird refuge on East Cabrillo Boulevard. Designed and furnished by The Warner Group Architects, the restaurant blends natural materials, layered textures, and soft lighting to create a relaxed yet elevated atmosphere. From the sculptural green glass bar to the private booths framed by custom murals and velvet banquettes, every detail was considered to foster comfort and connection. Outdoor terraces shaded by striped umbrellas offer views of the surrounding landscape, extending the dining experience into nature. Balancing modern luxury with the casual charm of Montecito, Ospi has quickly become a local favorite and a distinctive addition to Santa Barbara’s culinary and architectural scene.
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Thank You to our Sponsors!
Site Sponsors
Shannon Scott Design | BMA Mechanical+, Mechanical Engineer | Dennis Thompson | Allen Construction T&S Structural | Alan Noelle Engineering, INC | Evergreen Landscape Architects | Ashley & Vance Engineering Sweet Smiling Landscapes | Becker Studios | Buena Tile + Stone