Qing Tang-Oxley has realized a long-held vision with the completion of a small hillside home on a challenging plot of land overlooking Bodega Bay, California. Despite early warnings from architects and contractors about the difficulty of building on the steep, undeveloped lot alongside Highway 1, Tang-Oxley persevered, turning a neglected property into a distinctive retreat.
Tang-Oxley purchased the parcel, which had been on the market for years with repeatedly reduced prices, in 2018 for $145,000. Though a local architect dismissed the site as nearly impossible to develop and even warned Tang-Oxley against buying it, she saw potential. The lot’s sharp drop to the water’s edge presented significant engineering challenges, but an engineer’s report confirmed it could support a structure. Tang-Oxley, a physician who emigrated from China in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising, sought a small, manageable home as a future retirement residence.
Eager to find an architect willing to embrace the project’s obstacles, she engaged Neal Schwartz, founder of Schwartz and Architecture in San Francisco. Schwartz noted the difficulty, pointing out that the county’s building division, California Department of Transportation, and California Coastal Commission would all need to approve the plans. Despite the regulatory hurdles and the lack of an obvious building site, Schwartz was motivated by Tang-Oxley’s determination and eagerness.
The final design squeezed a 730-square-foot, single-story cottage into a limited building envelope. Elevated on tall posts to ensure flood safety and minimize environmental impact, the home features a single bedroom and bathroom, with an open floor plan combining kitchen, dining, and living spaces. The exterior roof’s curved shape is clad in asphalt shingles arranged to resemble fish scales, creating a visual dialogue with the coastal surroundings.
Obtaining all required approvals proved a protracted process, taking over four years amid pandemic-related delays and extensive studies, including biology and geology reports. Builders initially quoted prohibitive prices due to the site’s difficulty, but construction began in February 2025 after engaging Simon Fairweather of Fairweather & Associates, who proposed a simpler, more cost-effective approach. The project was completed in April 2025.
The total cost exceeded $2.2 million—approximately four times what Tang-Oxley initially anticipated—leading her to delay retirement to cover expenses. Nonetheless, she considers the investment worthwhile for the emotional and spiritual fulfillment it has brought. “It’s so close to nature,” she said. Throughout the project, she maintained contact with Schwartz through poetic messages, capturing the journey’s trials and triumphs with words rather than conventional updates.
Her favorite moment of inspiration derived from an ancient Chinese fable about an old man determined to remove mountains by sheer perseverance, symbolizing Tang-Oxley’s steadfast commitment to seeing her vision come to life. Despite warnings, financial challenges, and bureaucratic delays, Tang-Oxley’s project illustrates the power of determination in transforming an unlikely site into a personal sanctuary.