Ultra-Modern Palo Alto Home by Maydan Architects

Back in 2005, Mary Maydan, founder and principal of Maydan Architects, designed a home for her family in Palo Alto that broke the mold of traditional architecture with its glass and steel ultra-modern aesthetic.

At 3,600 square feet, the home boasts five bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guest house on the 12,500 square foot lot. The home, the first of its kind in the area, was designed to introduce ultra-modern minimalistic style to the otherwise traditional neighborhood, and to create a sense of interconnectedness for the multiple generations living within. Large glass walls, which blur the line between indoor and outdoor, as well as clean lines and a careful selection of materials, are a few of the many unique aspects of the home that have paved the way for this style of architecture in the area.

One of the primary design statements within the space is a stunning winding staircase. Maydan says she designed the staircase first, and based the design of the rest of the house around it. Working with a very narrow and long lot, it was a challenge to create a beautiful entry. That’s how the idea of the striking staircase was born. She added a floor-to-ceiling frosted curtain glass wall behind the stairs in order to allow light to come in, while blocking the neighbors from view. Additionally, the home includes a first-floor office space and a family room that can also function as a media room, merely by dropping a 110” screen from the ceiling.

In 2005, almost every detail of the house felt like reinventing the wheel. There were very few suppliers of modern fixtures and accessories. The popular color palette was mainly beige, and all of the houses in the area used Crema Marfil Marble. Keen on having gray flooring, Maydan imported a container of natural gray tile as well as high-end aluminum windows and doors, plumbing, light parts, and even custom cabinetry from Israel.