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Félix, the couple’s son, coming down the cement stairs of the new family home.

The courtyards are similar in size, form, and materials to the rooms of the house.

Floor plan of Reforma 954 by Este Norte

Despite the loft’s derelict condition, its 14-foot ceilings and enormous windows instantly appealed to Gabriele. His home workspace looks out on a soccer field and open views of the Bellvitge neighborhood. The Losanges rug is by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Nanimarquina.

The site has beautiful views of a nature reserve at the edge of a stream.

Lanza Atelier salvaged stone excavated from a building site to create a different kind of beach house in Cancún.

The house meets LBC standards for net-positive water, on-site water treatment, and net-positive energy. To create a closed-loop system, potable water (blue) is collected via the rooftop and stored in an underground fiberglass cistern that holds 10,000 gallons. “In three weeks in January this year, we captured enough water for six months of use in the house,” says Todd. That rainwater is purified via a filtration system in the lower-level mechanical room before reaching faucets. A septic tank outfitted with a textile filter scrubs gray water and blackwater (orange) for non-potable use, such as irrigation. An array of 42 solar panels supplies 105 percent of the property’s power needs (yellow), and two wall-mounted batteries store backup power.

The fittings are from Interceramic, while the light fixtures are from LEDS C4.

Floor Plan of Olive Street Cabin by MGAO

The luxe bathroom has marble, wood, and tile, materials echoed elsewhere throughout the home.

As a practicing architect for over 30 years, Scott looked to his network to help take on the project and, to an extent, mitigate the budget. “I’ve described this house as less of a construction project, and more of an Amish barn raising.”

One of two bathrooms has floor-to-ceiling tiles in a calming blue shade.

Before: This 1959 Eichler home in the Sunnyvale area was a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom, courtyard model, with an L-shaped plan and high fence to create privacy from the street.