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When building such a modest structure in a large landscape, designer and client often had to defend their vision to their collaborators. “We knew this house was going to be for Maggie and she would live there alone,” designer Lauren Moffitt says. “But people are always projecting for future resale. Putting in the smallest size of anything—to any subcontractor, it’s just not reasonable.”
When building such a modest structure in a large landscape, designer and client often had to defend their vision to their collaborators. “We knew this house was going to be for Maggie and she would live there alone,” designer Lauren Moffitt says. “But people are always projecting for future resale. Putting in the smallest size of anything—to any subcontractor, it’s just not reasonable.”
The focal point of the home’s modernized exterior is a custom, wood-and-steel entry gate designed by atelier KS and built by DeFauw Design + Fabrication, a local fabricator who also made custom closing hardware for the piece. Franz and Paré-Mayer paired angled cypress slats with an industrial metal frame to create the entryway. A few paces behind the gate, a large glass door provides direct access to the home, fulfilling the owners’ wish for an entry vestibule that would be separate from the street. The angled wood slats offer privacy from the exterior, while selectively allowing light to penetrate through.
The focal point of the home’s modernized exterior is a custom, wood-and-steel entry gate designed by atelier KS and built by DeFauw Design + Fabrication, a local fabricator who also made custom closing hardware for the piece. Franz and Paré-Mayer paired angled cypress slats with an industrial metal frame to create the entryway. A few paces behind the gate, a large glass door provides direct access to the home, fulfilling the owners’ wish for an entry vestibule that would be separate from the street. The angled wood slats offer privacy from the exterior, while selectively allowing light to penetrate through.
Sea Oaks - Waterfront Estate
Sea Oaks - Waterfront Estate
Girard’s touch is visible in almost every detail in the house.
Girard’s touch is visible in almost every detail in the house.
The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge.
The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge.
Golden Gate Bridge, USA-Tilt-shift of the iconic Golden Gate in San Francisco. Photo: TenSafeFrogs
Golden Gate Bridge, USA-Tilt-shift of the iconic Golden Gate in San Francisco. Photo: TenSafeFrogs
Playing Defense Cooper was faced with a conundrum when designing her property gate. She didn’t want passersby to be able to see in, but neither did she want a totally solid barrier keeping street life out. Using spare sheet metal, she fashioned a gate that’s solid on top and porous steel wire on the bottom. With a tube steel structure for support and a DoorKing 9100 motor to open and close the heavy fence, she was set. doorking.com
Playing Defense Cooper was faced with a conundrum when designing her property gate. She didn’t want passersby to be able to see in, but neither did she want a totally solid barrier keeping street life out. Using spare sheet metal, she fashioned a gate that’s solid on top and porous steel wire on the bottom. With a tube steel structure for support and a DoorKing 9100 motor to open and close the heavy fence, she was set. doorking.com
“We talked about creating a sense of mystery when [guests] walked in from the street,” says Christopher. A gate swings open on a steel bar-stock frame to reveal a courtyard and the dining room beyond.
“We talked about creating a sense of mystery when [guests] walked in from the street,” says Christopher. A gate swings open on a steel bar-stock frame to reveal a courtyard and the dining room beyond.
The dreadlocked Ishii Hideaki grins at the gate to the Kobayashi's property.
The dreadlocked Ishii Hideaki grins at the gate to the Kobayashi's property.
A tall steel gate grants entry to the courtyard.
A tall steel gate grants entry to the courtyard.
The view from the uppermost level of the yard looks down to the slide and the sloped lawn, sandbox, and, beyond the gate, bioretention unit and mulch.
The view from the uppermost level of the yard looks down to the slide and the sloped lawn, sandbox, and, beyond the gate, bioretention unit and mulch.
In the back, ivy climbs across the garage’s raw cedar cladding next to a gate that allows access to the laneway—but the boys prefer to climb the fence.
In the back, ivy climbs across the garage’s raw cedar cladding next to a gate that allows access to the laneway—but the boys prefer to climb the fence.
A long low response to the rugged landscape, Doug Paton and Stacey Chapman Paton’s house is a linear white exercise in modern entertaining.
A long low response to the rugged landscape, Doug Paton and Stacey Chapman Paton’s house is a linear white exercise in modern entertaining.
Rebuilding presented architect Heidi Richardson the opportunity to improve views of Mount Tam to the west and the Golden Gate Bridge to the northeast.
Rebuilding presented architect Heidi Richardson the opportunity to improve views of Mount Tam to the west and the Golden Gate Bridge to the northeast.
Details at the front fence and carport gate.
Details at the front fence and carport gate.
Beyond the large, pivoting wooden gate lies the front entry.
Beyond the large, pivoting wooden gate lies the front entry.
The gate, opening onto the entry courtyard, serves as the pavilion's front door.
The gate, opening onto the entry courtyard, serves as the pavilion's front door.
An ipe walkway leads past a steel gate to the guesthouse.
An ipe walkway leads past a steel gate to the guesthouse.
Custom rosewood gates and privacy screens at the street entrance. Unsealed, these will grey naturally over time.
Custom rosewood gates and privacy screens at the street entrance. Unsealed, these will grey naturally over time.
Stone steps lead up from the gated front door to the entrance on the south side of the house.
Stone steps lead up from the gated front door to the entrance on the south side of the house.
The 1962 midcentury is entered through a large private gate with lush greenery along one side.
The 1962 midcentury is entered through a large private gate with lush greenery along one side.
The fence in front of the house creates an L-shaped courtyard. The entrance is tucked behind the private gate.
The fence in front of the house creates an L-shaped courtyard. The entrance is tucked behind the private gate.
Set behind a gate and up a private half-acre drive, the home enjoys expansive westward views to the ocean.
Set behind a gate and up a private half-acre drive, the home enjoys expansive westward views to the ocean.
Topped with solar panels, the gabled prefab is equipped with 12-foot-tall aluminum security gates that keep the dwelling secure when not in use.
Topped with solar panels, the gabled prefab is equipped with 12-foot-tall aluminum security gates that keep the dwelling secure when not in use.
Dawnsknoll’s exterior sidings are cement panels and Resysta wood. The house’s front gate and garage are made from recycled wood.
Dawnsknoll’s exterior sidings are cement panels and Resysta wood. The house’s front gate and garage are made from recycled wood.
The steel canopy protects the residents from Seattle’s notoriously rainy weather as they walk from the entry gate to the front door.
The steel canopy protects the residents from Seattle’s notoriously rainy weather as they walk from the entry gate to the front door.
The sliding-gate entrance to the residents' private, 4,900-square-foot pool and gym area.
The sliding-gate entrance to the residents' private, 4,900-square-foot pool and gym area.
Dotted by potted plants and lined with a simple iron gate, Casa Tuscania’s back patio aims to exist harmoniously with the wild environment just beyond.
Dotted by potted plants and lined with a simple iron gate, Casa Tuscania’s back patio aims to exist harmoniously with the wild environment just beyond.
Beyond the large pedestrian gate, “which is really the home’s front door,” says Gottschalk, “the house begins to reveal its strong indoor and outdoor relationship. Blurring the boundary between the two is a key design element.”
Beyond the large pedestrian gate, “which is really the home’s front door,” says Gottschalk, “the house begins to reveal its strong indoor and outdoor relationship. Blurring the boundary between the two is a key design element.”
Caption: This giant set was created to film scenes for the 1987 movie The Gate
Caption: This giant set was created to film scenes for the 1987 movie The Gate
The house’s original post-and-beam carport includes a lockable storage shed and a new remote-controlled gate.
The house’s original post-and-beam carport includes a lockable storage shed and a new remote-controlled gate.
In this Brazilian home, São Paulo studio Jacobsen Arquitetura placed laminated timber porticoes approximately 1.31 feet apart, to create a dynamic linear aesthetics that brings to mind the tori gates of Kyoto’s famous Fushimi Inari shrine.
In this Brazilian home, São Paulo studio Jacobsen Arquitetura placed laminated timber porticoes approximately 1.31 feet apart, to create a dynamic linear aesthetics that brings to mind the tori gates of Kyoto’s famous Fushimi Inari shrine.
Gated Driveway Entry
Gated Driveway Entry
From a gate along the street, brick stairs lead down to a sunken courtyard and the home's main entrance. A separate gated driveway provides access to a two-car garage.
From a gate along the street, brick stairs lead down to a sunken courtyard and the home's main entrance. A separate gated driveway provides access to a two-car garage.

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