Modern Homes in Oakland

Made of polished integral concrete with a Cor-Ten steel base, a fire pit “becomes very much a unique element that sets itself apart in form and color,” says landscape architect Stefan Thuilot, who designed it.

The chairs and end table in the living room are of Eric’s design.

Oakland, California, doesn’t want for stately old Victorian houses, but heritage and zoning regulations often make them tough to renovate, particularly if you have an aesthetic depar-ture in mind. By raising the house, Mike McDonald was able to preserve the façade and create a modern new office space below.

“We don’t punch holes in walls to create little windows,” he explains. “In most cases, we’ll take as much of a wall as possible and make it glass.”