Packed Naturally
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"This was the most complex house I've ever done," says Smith of the residence, which is located on a corner lot in a quiet residential neighborhood in Palo Alto. Though the facade shown here faces the street, it is actually the back of the home. Making all sides appear to be a front was challenging for Smith. -
"We originally proposed using concrete for the walls because we like the plain style and directness," the owners say. Instead of concrete, Smith suggested rammed earth, a material that combines some of the physical properties of concrete, but is less "psychologically cold." The 16-inch-thick walls' thermal mass helps to insulate the interior from heat in the summer and cold in the winter."Rammed earth is complicated," says Smith, "so have the right expectations, do the research, and hire the right people." David Easton—who Smith calls "The Godfather of Rammed Earth"—headed the contracting team that built the walls. -
The project's most challenging aspect, according to Smith, was orienting the residence. "It was difficult to create a strong, attractive, and handsome design in a corner location." -
The large windows shown here open up allowing hot air to escape during the summer months, a passive cooling technique that helps the residents stay comfortable without an air conditioner.The house boasts a number of green features, which begun with the demolition of the pre-existing residence that dated from the 1930s. Over a five-week period, the old house was carefully deconstructed and its materials were either reused in the new house, donated to the local ReUse, or taken to recycling centers. -
A traditional genkan (a Japanese entryway) was part of the architectural program early on. Shoes are removed before entering the main living space, which is elevated six inches above the floor level of the entryway. The blonde wood is rift-cut white oak. -
The wooden flooring shown here is American walnut. -
The stairwell is a key feature in the home. It's located in the back of the house so that people are drawn into the interior spaces and can interact with whoever is home. The stairwell also houses a hefty amount of storage. All of the cabinetry was designed by Spiral Design out of South San Francisco. -
A significant part of the design was its execution, which was carried out by general contractor Kirk Welton. "The details are so tight," says Smith, who remarked that the finished details were exactly as drawn or even better. Here, an intersection of the materials: ipe, rammed earth, glass, and white oak. "A comment we get all the time is that the quality of the finishing is very high," the owners say. -
Xeriscaping-drought-tolerant landscaping—was an important part of the house's resource efficiency. Instead of a typical lawn, the owners planted a meadow of native grasses and installed artificial turf, which requires no maintenance. The landscape design was a collaboration between CCS and John Greenlee, and was installed by Berkeley-based Siteworks Landscape. -
Open spaces were very important to the close-knit family of five and the kitchen/dining area is one of their favorites in the house. The stainless steel countertops and hood were fabricated by American Metal Products out of San Francisco. "We spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The big table is used for eating breakfast, lunch, kids homework, dinner, school projects, etc. It was designed to be the center of the house and it's worked out really well," the owners say. -
A lot of attention was paid to integrate the indoors and out. The kitchen and dining room are seamlessly bridged to the porch via 65 feet of sliding glass doors. Building the porch on a corner helps create a more intimate environment says Smith. Just out of the frame is a flowering pear tree that's a focal point of the yard. "It's beautiful to sit inside and look out at the garden and the tree. Or, if it's warmer, open the doors and feel the breeze," the owners say. -
Though Smith eschewed concrete for the walls, it's used for flooring and consists of 30 percent fly ash (a byproduct of coal-fired power plants). -
The built-in sofa was designed by CCS Architecture and fabricated by San Francisco-based Kroll Furniture. Barbara Vickroy, CCS's interior designer, picked the fabrics and furnishings in the home. In the foreground is an Arne Jacobsen Egg chair. -
An 80-foot-long, light-filled corridor stretches the length of the second story. Instead of artwork, the owners opted to adorn their walls with shadows that change throughout the day. -
The bathroom also reflects the same attention to detail and finishing as the rest of the house. -
Another view of the bathroom. -
In addition to photovoltaic (PV) cells, the roof houses a thermal water system that heats the domestic hot water and preheats the water for the radiant floor heating installed throughout the residence. -
The yard is in the rear of the lot and provides a semi-private space for recreation. "The kids spend a lot of time in the garden," say the owners. "There is an infinite track for running around or biking, an artificial lawn where they play badminton and soccer, and a terrace where they play with hula hoops and jump ropes." -
The first floor's plan. The main residence is in orange and a guesthouse/studio is in blue. -
The second floor consists of a library, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. -
Here's an overview of the landscape design.Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
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