Rare Brutalist Landmark Hits the Market in Santa Barbara for $4.4 Million: ‘A Home for a Collector, a Connoisseur’

A moody brutalist mansion that sits atop a hillside in Santa Barbara is providing a refreshing break from the region’s longstanding devotion to Mediterranean- and Spanish-style architecture, offering a “rare” opportunity to own a home that is as much a piece of art as it is a unique dwelling.

Designed by architect J.F. Strickland, the brutalist-style block-shaped abode was completed in 1973, having been commissioned by a local doctor, for whom the home is now named.

“The Skog House” was originally used by Dr. Skog as a live-work space, and was designed with both a main residence and a detached two-bedroom guesthouse.

For the past 30 years, the home has been owned by the same people who have maintained much of its original design—although they did embark on a restoration in 2007, working with Ferguson-Ettinger Architects to ensure that their updates did not take away from the historically significant structure.

The main aim of the work was connecting the two original buildings that sat on the property via a breezeway.

“Now it’s a three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home and a detached office that’s connected to the garage with its own separate entrance,” listing agent David Kim of Village Properties explains.

“It has a perfect balance of retaining so many of the original elements … you can’t tell where the old and the new starts. It’s very seamless.”

Though the two structures are now connected, their facade and interiors retain much of the incredible elements that were put in place by Strickland, including a raw concrete plaster exterior, which was intended to weather and “age” over time, giving the property its very own patina that adds to its moody look.

Inside, guests will find mahogany-paneled doors and rift-sawn oak paneling along with Fleetwood doors that open to the outdoors. The listing also includes a two-car garage.

The sellers are only the second family to own the home—and they have turned the property into a veritable art gallery over the years, using their impressive collection to enhance the dwelling’s already beautiful interior.

Art can also be found in the property’s Pacific Ocean views, which have been greatly improved by the removal of utility lines by a previous owner.

“You have truly unobstructed ocean views and views of the Santa Barbara Harbor,” says Kim of the home’s perch in the Eucalyptus Hill neighborhood.

“Why the harbor views are so desirable is you get that dreamy ocean view during the day and at night the harbor lights up. You get that view from almost everywhere in the home.”

In other words, a future owner can enjoy those rare vistas from the primary suite’s soaking tub—or while enjoying meals at the outdoor dining table, all the while safe in the knowledge that, wherever they are in the home, a view will be available.

Proximity to town is another unique selling point.

“You’re at a lower vantage point so you’re not way, way up in the foothills,” says Kim. “You’re also relatively close to shopping amenities, in the upper and lower villages of Montecito. You are built into a hillside.”

However, Kim notes that the property will likely not appeal to every buyer—explaining that this kind of brutalist structure tends to attract a very niche audience.

In fact, the listing makes clear that it is far from the average home, stating: “Architectural in ambition, and reverent in detail, this is a home for a collector, a connoisseur.”

“The way the design of this home is, it’s a piece of art,” says Kim. “Because it’s not that quintessential Spanish Mediterranean style, which a lot of people associate with Santa Barbara and Montecito, it’s not going to appeal to the broader mass in that same way.”

Still, it appears that the home has already proven its potential, with the listing now showing it as “pending” a sale, meaning an offer has been made and accepted.

Kim says a few potential buyers from out of state quickly booked flights to come out and see the house, noting: “They recognize how rare it is.”

When asked who the “ideal” buyer might be, the listing agent said that the home could well serve as the perfect vacation spot for someone seeking a retreat outside of a big city.

“I think it works well as a second home because the landscaping is very low maintenance. It’s very turnkey,” he adds.