Located on the peninsula south of San Francisco, this house sits on an internal suburban flag lot. The previous 1950s house, removed due to structural problems, featured mature landscaping and a manmade pond that the clients wanted to preserve. They wanted their new house to be a private retreat that maximizes the drama of the pond and takes advantage of the privacy of the site. The design solution breaks the program into four buildings – main house, study, pool house and garage – that ring the edge of the site and focus inward on the pond, garden and pool. Large sliding glass doors open directly out to the pond and terrace. The roofs conceal photovoltaic and solar hot water panels. The house is heated with a radiant system in the stone floors, and despite the hot climate it is not air conditioned, but passively cooled with a combination of overhangs, shades, and operable windows. The house also features many green building materials, including high fly-ash concrete, formaldehyde-free casework and denim insulation. The new house creates a special place for the clients, making a main residence feel like a vacation retreat.
Project Spotlight
Product Spotlight
News
Key projects by MVRDV
MVRDV is a global architecture studio established in 1993 by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, and Nathalie... More
Enrico Molteni Architecture completes a timber and glass inclusive education center in Parma
Milan-based Enrico Molteni Architecture has completed the development of an inclusive education cent... More
CLOU architects realizes Hangzhou kindergarten as series of stacked building blocks
Beijing-based CLOU architects, an internationally-focused design studio, has completed the West Coas... More
Archello’s highlights from Salone 2024
A Mecca for design professionals and enthusiasts globally, the 2024 Salone del Mobile took place fro... More
Multigenerational family home in Rajasthan by Sanjay Puri Architects embraces regional vernacular and natural ventilation
Located in the arid desert region of Nokha in Rajasthan, India, “Narsighar” house is a m... More
Vancouver's Pacific National Exhibition Amphitheatre to feature a precedent-setting mass timber roof
Situated in Hastings Park, Vancouver, the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) Amphitheatre by Revery A... More
New Quebec library by ACDF Architecture is an exercise in thoughtful adaptive reuse
Canadian architectural firm ACDF Architecture has completed the new Bibliothèque T-A-St-Germa... More
Archello houses of the month - May 2024
Archello has selected its houses of the month for May 2024. This list showcases 20 of the most... More