Malibu High School Classroom, Library & Administration Building

“From Sky to Sea,” the landscape narrative traces a raindrop and its journey to the nearby Malibu coast. Its path is green, and one that promotes views from classrooms to outdoor vegetated spaces. The design includes a rooftop garden where the landscape area is expanded, and students and faculty can take advantage of the coastline views. Phasing and the shared jurisdictions of the Coastal Commission, City of Malibu, and DSA added great complexity to the process but yielded a design that reinforces the narrative and celebrates rainwater capture, storage, and reuse within the landscape. Native plant species add much-needed shade, bird and insect habitat, beauty, and educational opportunities for students.