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The architects dropped the floor of the lower level to create 10-foot-tall ceilings. The existing den and master bedroom now serve as a media room furnished with an Eero Saarinen table from Knoll, Bruno Hansen chairs, and an Original Timber Co. bench.

Saddle Peak Residence by AUX Architecture

Kasita prefabs started at $89,000, and they were marketed as tiny houses for those who wished to live simply.

The master bedroom, previously a little dormer, has been expanded to include a massive corner window that captures the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and Richmond Bridge on clear days. A rug by Aelfie Oudghiri for CB2, wool-wrapped pouf by CB2, and vintage chaise by Maarten van Severen creates an impressive lounge area.

A string of glass hallways connect the four pavilions, bringing a slice of the great outdoors inside.

A glass-and-steel staircase leads upstairs to the private sleeping quarters, which are connected via a bridge. "Setting the bedrooms in a separate area lets everyone feel like they have a place to call their own," the clients say.

Staircase

Side

The wooden ofuro tub offers a luxurious soak with views of nature. The upstairs soaking tubs, private sauna, and screened porch also provide intimate spaces that embrace the outdoors.

The rich material palette of stone, timber, glass, and board-formed concrete blend the home into the surroundings.

Boffi

A view across the display island to a breezeway betweent the house and the garage that Pacek and Roynon created as part of their home addition. They use the space for entertaining and food service when the weather cooperates.

"You don’t think of maintenance as a sustainability issue, but it is," says Swatt, who points out that most exteriors require stain, paint, or sealant for upkeep, unlike the corrugated metal used for their prefabs which is virtually maintenance free.

Steps lead down from the kitchen to the living room and dining area. Open shelving keeps the spaces connected but distinct.

Malcolm Davis stands behind the specimen oak tree on the new cantilevered wraparound deck.

Ridgeview House takes its H-shaped form from the original home on the site with a small addition to the south for an enlarged kitchen.

Windows were carefully oriented to capture views of the landscape.

Austin-based architecture firm Thoughtbarn set out to renovate an H-shaped residence in a wooded, hilly neighborhood known for its midcentury, ranch-style homes, but quickly discovered that the home’s slab was structurally failing and would need to be replaced. This replacement ultimately led to the construction of a new home based on the footprint of the original—but with a small addition to the south. The exterior is clad in board-and-batten siding, while the front porch is covered with stained pine. Both materials have a vertical emphasis, which speaks to the heritage oak trees on the .75-acre property.