Text by Nakhshab Development & Design: San Diego-based Nakhshab Development & Design (NDD) has completed Athina House—a modern coastal home in San Diego’s North County. Minimalist and serene, the 3,800 SF single-family residence was completed just 11 months after breaking ground, even amid a global pandemic.
Set on a 3.7-acre coastal plot near horse stables and hillside chateaus, this modern San Diego home has an oasis-like quality. Softly screened by drought-tolerant plants and trees, its clean lines offer a discreet presence that harmonises with neighbouring properties rooted in more traditional forms.
Natural stone walls—grout-free and continuous—flow from exterior to interior, enhancing the connection between the structure and the Southern California landscape. “The primary concept of the home is its relationship with its environs,” says Soheil Nakhshab, CEO of NDD. “Not only have we surrounded the site with nature, but we’ve inserted pockets of nature into the structure itself.” Indoors and outdoors blur; space is open, but never undefined—creating a sense of calm, intimacy, and spatial freedom.
Plans for the estate include the main modern residence, garage and carport, guest house, outdoor entertaining zones, chicken coop, horse stables, and corrals. To make use of the sloped site, Nakhshab elevated the home on structural steel columns, giving it the feel of a floating treehouse overlooking a sunken private patio.
Floor-to-ceiling glass walls, fitted with custom vertical airfoil blades, offer both privacy and expansive views. Inside, one sees the central courtyard, existing pond, layered landscaping, and far-off Pacific Ocean sunsets—a daily performance from this thoughtfully placed coastal home in San Diego.
Materiality remains central to the design. Breezeblock partitions, cantilevered staircases, custom steel elements, and built-in walnut joinery express a quiet, minimal richness. Kitchen counters in Italian Breccia Capraia marble are set within tailored cabinetry—offering a functional yet luxurious setting for everyday living.
As a master-builder, Nakhshab led every discipline—architecture, interior design, landscape, engineering, and furniture-making. This integrated approach enabled streamlined permitting and build timelines, allowing the project to progress quickly without compromising quality.
Athina is a fully realised vision, from site plan to soft furnishing. Each element ties back to a core idea: that a modern coastal home in San Diego can be elegant, efficient, deeply personal, and built in tune with its natural surroundings.
