The home is built into its grassy-dune landscape (icluding a day-lit lower level) yet still appears to float over its terrain.
The renovated kitchen is open, airy, and connected to the rest of the main level. Plum Projects used Bedrosians Magnifica Luxe polished white porcelain for the island, countertops, and backsplash. The black upper cabinets are made from Richlite: a durable, sustainable material made from recycled paper.
Two Angle II Armchairs from TRNK sit below a quilt by Catherine-Marie Longtin.
The new kitchen-and-dining area connects to the living area and the rear yard.
Nestled in a forested spot in Oakland Hills, this house—victim to a tragic fire in 2017—was rebuilt as a bright, serene retreat. At first, the homeowner wasn't sure if she wanted to keep the ruined house or sell, but ultimately her love for the property won out and she stayed.
The previous galley-style kitchen was dark and closed off from the rest of the house. For the remodel, Sammie requested high ceilings, no upper cabinets, and U-shaped drawers. Simple white-painted upper shelves display a collection of ceramic dishes.
A large home office area also awaits on the lower level.
The café’s polished concrete floors are ground down to “expose some of the aggregate,” Mike says. Vintage leather chairs balance a custom banquette, upholstered in a forest-green wool felt by Kravet.
This concept by New York–based architecture firm ROART came in third place in the (Re)Distribution category. Called Constellations, it imagines an array of designs configured across the city, as if the stars had fallen to create a map.
Yellow vinyl floor tile defines the new living room and keeps the interior from veering too industrial. “You need to offset the brick with something simple,” says Tom. “Otherwise, you get too many textures.” The lights and coffee table were found at local vintage stores.
With the plants gone, the new finishes reflect more light.
Jose Mármol Reform by Micaela Racca Kitchen
An oak beam spans the room, and a custom fireplace was created by Noor El-Mohandes.
The 3,851-square-foot residence was most recently owned by New Zealand-born actor KJ Apa of CW’s popular “Riverdale” television series.
The new, attached ADU is rented out as a passive source of income that is helping Amanda finance the project.
The original Doug fir floors were revealed, cleaned, and refinished, as were the crossbeams at the ceiling.
In addition to a community-based Virtual Power Plant, Green Alley Housing proposes a wide array of net-zero design elements from a gray water recovery system for irrigation to the inclusion of electric vehicle charging.
The Hidden Gardens design takes advantage of passive solar strategies to minimize the building’s environmental footprint. For example, strategic building massing as well as trellises, recessed windows and large shade trees can help reduce unwanted solar gain in summer.
Frogtown Four, a design by Los Angeles–based architect Bestor Architecture, took second place in the Fourplex category. The arrangement, which provides four new units under a common roof, is meant as a low-key intervention that don’t disrupt the existing streetscape.
Hidden Gardens’ diagram shows a 7,500-square-foot lot with a 955-square-foot Unit A (2 bedroom, 2.5 bath and 1 flex space); 1,209-square-foot Unit B (3 bedroom, 2.5 bath and 1 flex space); 596-square-foot ADA Unit C (1 bedroom, 1 bath); and 620-square-foot Unit D (1 bedroom, 1 bath).