4 BR/3.5 Ba
4000 sf living area + 440 sf garage

This modern house in a prestigious community south of San Francisco is embedded in a north facing hillside with views towards the San Francisco Bay. Its elongated plan follows the site's existing contours and its low, broad, roof reflcts the height limits established by the town. While the major views are towards the north, the house also looks south into a very private courtyard that collects the sun’s heat passively through protected glass and provides ample cross ventilation so that no mechanical air conditioning is needed.

A three-story staircase unites the house and is expressed as a powerful sculptural element in the south courtyard. On the house's north side, expansive decks extend the interior space and capture the panoramic Bay views. A relatively closed shaped two-story "tower" on the southesat corner of the house contains an office and the master bath while also shielding private areas from a neighboring house.

A hydronic in-floor heating system, partially fed by hot water solar panels on the roof, will provide an even, efficient, dust-free, heat throughout the home. Additional photo-voltaic solar panels will provide more then 1/2 of the house's electricity.

Major building materials are stucco, thermally broken aluminum windows and doors, grey Brazilian slate on the lower walls and a standing seam metal roof.