Sea Ranch, California is a planned community designed to meld with the natural environment. A walking path runs along most of its 10-mile coast line. The Sea Ranch was developed by Joseph Esherick and a small group of Bay Area architects in the 1960s. It was envisioned as a progressive, inclusive community guided by the principles of good design, economy of space, and harmony with the natural environment. Lawrence Halprin was the landscape architect. The Sea Ranch Covenant and Concept
Interesting to note: Joseph Esherick was the nephew of Wharton Esherick whose approach to sculpture and form evolved out of the arts and crafts movement to embrace organic shape derived from natural materials. Lawrence Halprin was married to the choreographer Anna Halprin, a pioneer of postmodern dance. Their daughter Daria starred in Michelangelo Antonioni’s film Zabriskie Point.
I took these photos while renting one of the Sea Ranch houses with my mother and my daughter.
All photos Copyright 2026, Alice Gebura All Rights Reserved
