This modern sanctuary was designed for a couple of empty nesters by Feldman Architecture located in the city of Palo Alto, California. Encompassing 4,289 square feet of living space, this home is nestled behind a large heritage oak tree, whose canopy stretches across the front yard.
Passing under the sculptural branches, visitors are lead through a succession of courtyards and view verdant gardens that beautifully meanders around the structure. Interior spaces are paired with their own landscape movement, enabling the architecture and landscape to interconnect.
Project Team: Interiors: Feldman Architecture | Landscape Architect: Ground Studio Landscape | Builder: Baywest Builders | Lighting: Kim Cladas Lighting Design | Structural Engineer: Strandberg Engineering | Civil Engineer: BKF Engineers | Arborist: Urban Tree Management | Geotechincal Engineer: Romig Engineers Inc
The dwelling floats on piers to enable interaction with the trees on the property while simultaneously helping to safeguard the root areas. “The floor plate projects beyond the building envelope and dissolves into balconies to blur the sense of indoor/outdoor while at the same time lifting the building up from the ground,” states the architects.
The driveway is also composed of floating concrete structural slabs supported on piers, this helps to reduce the impact on the heritage oak tree. The main living area features walls of disappearing glass, creating an extension to the outdoors. This enables a true indoor / outdoor living experience and ample space for the owners to entertain their ever expanding family.
Three pavilions span the depth of the property. The architects created a second story apartment to be used as income property. Below, board-formed concrete walls serve as organizing elements in the main residence, delineating the public spaces from private ones.
Diffused natural light floods into the interior living spaces throughout the day, highlighting the clean material palette of concrete and Alaskan yellow cedar. This dwelling was constructed as a modern house that prioritizes the landscape to speak first. The design showcases its hidden courtyards, inviting visitors to experience the same sense of wonderment that first drew the owners to this urban oasis.
What We Love: This modern sanctuary embraces the landscape that surrounds it, creating a peaceful environment for its inhabitants and their guests. The material palette offers simple, clean lines that helps to not detract from the natural beauty of the exterior. We are loving how courtyards help to create privacy to the living zones while also enabling large expanses of glass to soak in the views while drawing in natural light.
Tell Us: Do you think the project team did a good job of designing this home so that it does little to disturb the natural landscape that surrounds it? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments!
Note: Be sure to have a look below for the “Related” tags for more fabulous home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of Feldman Architecture.
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Photos: Joe Fletcher
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