X
X

This Palo Alto home was built around a 100-year-old oak tree: Lantern House

By | Published on August 1, 2026

Filed Under: Architecture

Post Comments

0 comments

Modern two-story home with light gray siding shaded by a mature oak tree, Palo Alto

❤️ Would you like to save this?

We'll email this article to you, so you can read it later!

By saving, we'll email this post to you for later. Unsubscribe anytime.

Designed by Klopf Architecture, the Lantern House is a light-filled, two-story residence in Palo Alto, California, built with durable materials to stand the test of time. The owners hail from Europe and were looking for a home built of materials that would last, and the steel frame, cementitious siding, concrete, and glass making up the structure will endure for many years, making the house more sustainable.

Built over a basement, the two story home uses two large glass lanterns, or light tunnels, to bring in daylight to all levels. One functions as the stairwell and both exhaust heat through operable skylights at the top. The basement is also daylit by a large exterior light well that creates a small walk-out patio.

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECT Klopf Architecture
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Holmes Structures
HEATING AND PLUMBING ENGINEER Monterey Energy Group
VENTILATION ENGINEER Pxt Consulting

Street view of the Lantern House exterior framed by a large protected oak tree

The bedrooms open onto a roof deck. Downstairs the secondary bedroom suite is used as a full-time office. The open plan living space and kitchen open to the rear yard to bring in light and view. The front of the house is shaded by an ancient oak tree that was carefully preserved throughout construction.

Glass Lantern Design Brings Natural Light Into Every Level

Glass lantern volume rising above the entry, framed by oak branches

What We Love About This Home

This home shows that a durable, low-maintenance build doesn’t have to feel cold. The two glass lanterns pull daylight down through every level, including the basement, and the operable skylights at the top let hot air escape. We also like that the architects worked around the old oak tree instead of cutting it down, making for a distinctive natural feature in the front yard.

Tell Us: What details do you love most in the design of this home? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other incredible home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of the architects of this project, Klopf Architects: A midcentury house in Orinda, California gets a stunning modern remodel and A midcentury modern California home takes inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright.

Close-up of the glass stairwell lantern with black steel frame at the entry

Glass lantern and cementitious siding detail viewed through oak tree branches

Exterior corner detail showing black steel canopy and siding textures

Floating Wood and Steel Staircase Design

Interior view of the floating wood stairwell lit by the glass lantern above

Glass-walled stairwell framing a view of the preserved oak tree outside

Close-up of black steel bracket connecting wood stair treads to glass railing

Wood and steel staircase inside the glass lantern, daylight pouring in

Detail of oak stair treads with glass railing and steel hardware

Close-up of steel stair bracket joining wood treads and glass panel

Rooftop deck with skylights and cementitious siding along the bedroom wing

Empty bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the rear yard

Daylit Upper Hallway and Glass Stairwell Enclosure

Upper-level hallway with glass-enclosed stairwell and skylight above

View down the stairwell lantern showing operable skylight and wood stairs

Basement hallway lit by the exterior light well and glass door

Green Onyx Bathroom Design

Bathroom with green onyx stone accent wall and glass-enclosed tub

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping and Rear Exterior

Rear exterior of the home with roof deck, drought-tolerant landscaping in bloom

Daylit basement space showing the light well and glass stairwell enclosure

Exterior Facade Details: Cementitious Siding and Steel Framing

Upward view of the glass light well with skylight and interior greenery

Close-up of cementitious siding and panel cladding on the exterior facade

Roof deck skylights and black steel canopy above the rear garden

Lantern House Glows at Twilight

Twilight view of the Lantern House exterior glowing beneath the oak canopy

Evening street view of the home with illuminated interior behind the oak tree

Twilight exterior corner showing carport, siding, and glowing windows

Illuminated stairwell lantern viewed from outside at dusk

Glass entry lantern glowing at dusk, framed by the oak tree

Twilight view of the glass stairwell lantern and entry beneath the oak tree

PHOTOGRAPHER ©2025 Mariko Reed

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments