Hilltop Saddle Residence

PROJECT NARRATIVE:

PROJECT BRIEF WAS TO DESIGN A HOUSE ON A SLOPED SITE THAT DID THE FOLLOWING THINGS:

– ENGAGE THE NORTHERN VIEWS OF THE VALLEY, WHILE PRESERVING SOME PRIVACY TO THE WEST.

– CREATE A LIVING ENVIRONMENT THAT BLURRED THE LINES BETWEEN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LIVING, WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING AREAS OF RETREAT AND ENCLOSURE.

– CLEARLY DEFINE THE PROGRAMMATIC USES WITH THE OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL FORM.

TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS WE:

– CREATED A SINGLE VOLUME OF LIVING, WITH IMMEDIATE SUPPORT SPACES ROOFED BY A DISTINCT BUTTERFLY FORM AND A WALL OF STEEL AND GLASS TO ENGAGE THE VIEW ON THE NORTH.

– CREATE A SERIES OF MORE ‘ENCLOSED STUCCO BOXES TO HOUSE THE MORE INTIMATE SPACES OF RETREAT: BEDROOMS, BATHROOMS, OFFICES, ETC.

– CREATE A CLEAR MATERIAL PALETTE:

– STEEL, CEDAR & GLASS: ‘PUBLIC’ LIVING

– STUCCO, PUNCHED OPENINGS: ‘PRIVATE’ LIVING

Design Challenge

THE CHALLENGE WAS TO CREATE A LIVING ENVIRONMENT THAT BLURRED THE LINES BETWEEN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LIVING, WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING AREAS OF RETREAT AND ENCLOSURE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WE CREATED A SERIES OF MORE ‘ENCLOSED STUCCO BOXES TO HOUSE THE MORE INTIMATE SPACES OF RETREAT: BEDROOMS, BATHROOMS, OFFICES, ETC. WHILE HOUSING THE MAIN LIVING SPACES WRAPPED IN STEEL AND GLASS UNDER A FLOATING BUTTERFLY ROOF.

Physical Context

THE PROJECT SITE WAS A 'SADDLE' ON A HILLTOP WHERE THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO ENGAGE THE NORTHERN VIEWS OF THE VALLEY, WHILE PRESERVING SOME PRIVACY TO THE WEST. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE CREATED A SINGLE VOLUME OF LIVING, WITH IMMEDIATE SUPPORT SPACES ROOFED BY A DISTINCT BUTTERFLY FORM AND A WALL OF STEEL AND GLASS TO ENGAGE THE VIEW ON THE NORTH.