The project was proposed for a young family, who desired an open plan home that embraced the views of the bay and a connection to the existing garden. The design consists of channeling or framing the views from the West side of the property into the house and through to the garden area on the East side. Enveloping the open plan common space in a wood tube becomes the connector between the garden and viewing deck.
The property has large redwood trees at the two longitudinal sides of the property, thus channeling ones focus from the front garden area to the to back views. The design consists of shrouding the open common space in a cedar wood tube that connects the garden in the front to the viewing deck off the living space at the rear. Situated near the top of the mountain range, about 1500 feet above sea level the site is confronted with extreme weather and wide temperature swings. The roof of the tube form is warped out creating a large ventilation volume for the living space echoing the wisps of the coastal fog flowing inward, cooling the interior with the afternoon breezes.
The San Francisco Bay has a very unique micro-climate with the bay reaching far inland and bringing a very temperate climate. The fog and afternoon breezes are omnipresent and is a big influence on the weather and ambient temperature. On the days where it gets hot, the fog and breezes can start to roll inland (late afternoon) to cool the interior in the evening. The form of the ceiling was derived from the function of the air flow and ventilation. It is fluid like the costal fog. Once the cooler air is captured and funneled inward, the rise of the ceiling increases the volume, thereby slowing the laminar air flow, and keeping the interior from feeling too drafty. Use of deep overhangs and wood trellising at the rear protect the space against excessive sun and heat gain. The insulation in the roof is maximized, thereby decreasing the need for heating, and improving the occupant comfort in the summer (without A/C). The landscaping was designed with natives that require very little or no water.
Working with the existing floor plan the design transformed the kitchen area to open out and connect to the front yard garden and forming an outdoor dining area. A concrete planter/bench was placed to further define the outdoor garden space. Opposite of the remodeled kitchen the interior dining space opens out to the viewing deck creating one large open space and extending the roof structure as a trellis to shelter the space from the direct sun. A new stair connects the main floor with the lower ground floor continuing the wood tube down through a crevasse to a media/projection room, bedroom and office area.
