450 architects

Oct 2013

This new single-family home is located on a steeply sloped site with panoramic views of Richardson Bay, within walking distance of downtown Sausalito. The client wanted a modern home that appeared modest from outside, respected the historic context of the neighborhood, but that felt spacious inside, celebrating the spectacular view and creating a meditative experience. The understated front fade makes the house feel unassuming and private to the street, but extensive windows and terraces facing the bay give a feeling of openness inside. With clean lines and a combination of light and dark woods, the house is modern, warm, and zen. It is elegant in its simplicity, sensitive to its neighborhood, and responsive to its site. One planning commissioner described the house as a jewel box one of the best gifts to Sausalito that I have seen in my five years on the Commission. The project includes a rainwater harvesting system (the first system approved for domestic use in California!) and state-of-the-art mechanical systems, all capable of being controlled remotely by a web-based building management system.

Sausalito, CA

Jan 2008

The owners of this modest 2,300 square foot country home wanted to minimize their impact on the Earth and establish a lasting connection to nature. The project employed local craftsmen and used natural, recycled, locally sourced materials. The sunroom features an earthen mud floor made from the soil of the site! The house employs passive solar design concepts; the sunroom, situated at the center of the house, captures the warmth of the sun and radiates it throughout the living spaces. With sustainable building techniques, sensitive attention to the surrounding environment, and framed views of the exterior from every interior space, this house celebrates its site and connection to the land. The owners of this modest 2,300 square foot country home wanted to minimize their impact on the Earth and establish a lasting connection to nature. The project employed local craftsmen and used natural, recycled, locally sourced materials. The sunroom features an earthen mud floor made from the soil of the site! The house employs passive solar design concepts; the sunroom, situated at the center of the house, captures the warmth of the sun and radiates it throughout the living spaces. With sustainable building techniques, sensitive attention to the surrounding environment, and framed views of the exterior from every interior space, this house celebrates its site and connection to the land. Sustainable Features: - Countertops and cabinetry built by local craftsmen; - Sustainably harvested woods; - Old-growth redwood siding recycled into interior; - Nontoxic finishes; - Radiant flooring; - Native plants; - Drip irrigation; - Design provisions made for future solar electric and solar thermal

Sebastopol, CA