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Modern Cottage

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Location
Mill Valley, California
Year
2022
Structure
House (Single Residence)
Style
Modern
The challenge was to tuck in amongst the redwood trees and build a foundation that floated above the tree roots.
The challenge was to tuck in amongst the redwood trees and build a foundation that floated above the tree roots.
The primary bedroom suite extends to an outdoor deck tucked amongst the redwoods.
The primary bedroom suite extends to an outdoor deck tucked amongst the redwoods.
The living and dining space extends to an outdoor terrace, dining area, and hot tub.
The living and dining space extends to an outdoor terrace, dining area, and hot tub.
A high-volume central living and circulation space makes the home feel spacious and bright.
A high-volume central living and circulation space makes the home feel spacious and bright.
A high-volume central living and circulation space makes the home feel spacious and bright.
A high-volume central living and circulation space makes the home feel spacious and bright.
All rooms extend to outdoor space and redwood views.
All rooms extend to outdoor space and redwood views.
A double height stair and circulation space allows extra light and views inside.
A double height stair and circulation space allows extra light and views inside.
Porcelana 'Lexington Maple' is featured in the primary bath.
Porcelana 'Lexington Maple' is featured in the primary bath.
Accessing natural light was paramount as well as capturing views across the borrowed landscape of the Redwood Lodge property.
Accessing natural light was paramount as well as capturing views across the borrowed landscape of the Redwood Lodge property.
The kitchen millwork is made from custom rift white cut oak with CaeserStone Naked Concrete countertops.
The kitchen millwork is made from custom rift white cut oak with CaeserStone Naked Concrete countertops.
Exterior - and fire-resistant - materials include cement board siding, bronze metal inverted Corten standing seams, and Hardiboard siding.
Exterior - and fire-resistant - materials include cement board siding, bronze metal inverted Corten standing seams, and Hardiboard siding.
Outdoor decks extend the small interior spaces to the exterior such that the house feels and lives twice as large.
Outdoor decks extend the small interior spaces to the exterior such that the house feels and lives twice as large.
The kitchen millwork is made from custom rift white cut oak with CaeserStone Naked Concrete countertops and backsplash.
The kitchen millwork is made from custom rift white cut oak with CaeserStone Naked Concrete countertops and backsplash.
Within the 1600sf envelope, Richardson Pribuss managed to provide three bedrooms, three full baths, and a high-volume central living and circulation space.
Within the 1600sf envelope, Richardson Pribuss managed to provide three bedrooms, three full baths, and a high-volume central living and circulation space.
As is much of Northern California, Mill Valley is located in a wildland-urban interface, or WUI zone, loosely defined as an area where urban development meets undeveloped lands at risk of wildfire. The client's goal was to build a fire-safe, sustainable, non-wood house.
As is much of Northern California, Mill Valley is located in a wildland-urban interface, or WUI zone, loosely defined as an area where urban development meets undeveloped lands at risk of wildfire. The client's goal was to build a fire-safe, sustainable, non-wood house.

Details

Square Feet
1600
Lot Size
4600 SF
Bedrooms
3
Full Baths
3

Credits

From Richardson Pribuss Architects

This small 4600sf lot is wedged between the heavily wooded Redwood Lodge site west of downtown Mill Valley and larger single-family properties. Most home buyers would want a lot with the potential for a house larger than 1600sf; our client’s, a Los Angeles family, considered this restraint luxurious coming from a 1500sf bungalow in Venice Beach.

As is much of Northern California, Mill Valley is located in a wildland-urban interface, or WUI zone, loosely defined as an area where urban development meets undeveloped lands at risk of wildfire. The client’s goal was to build a fire-safe, sustainable, non-wood house, and the major tenet was ‘small is beautiful.’ The existing cottage was beyond repair and was removed. The redwood trees were uprooting anyway.

The challenge was to tuck in amongst the redwood trees and build a foundation that floated above the tree roots. Accessing natural light was paramount as well as capturing views across the borrowed landscape of the Redwood Lodge property.

Within the 1600sf envelope, Richardson Pribuss Architects provided three bedrooms, three full baths, and a high-volume central living and circulation space. Outdoor decks extend the small interior spaces to the exterior such that the house feels and lives twice as large.

Exterior – and fire-resistant – materials include cement board siding, bronze metal inverted Corten standing seams, and Hardiboard siding, all in tonal ranges, that blend amongst the redwoods and add a certain modern cottage elegance to the exterior.