Designed amidst the pandemic from an industrial live-work studio lacking any connection to nature, we wanted to harness the power of outdoor spaces.

Rethinking the standard approach to residential architecture, we designed a home that begins in the tree canopy, below the open sky. Indoor spaces are arranged in relation to their outdoor counterparts.

  • Nestled between two building masses, the entry starts at the front gate. After hanging up your coat, you descend into the canyon with the height of the buildings looming over you. The staircase opens up to a long view over the forested hillside towards the bay.

  • Here you are welcomed into the house’s outdoor kitchen and outdoor lounge where you are hosted, cared for and unconstrained by the built environment. Outdoor spaces flow seamlessly into corresponding indoor spaces, creating a circular flow around a central staircase.

  • The lowest level offers privacy and quiet with spaces nestled in forested surroundings, the perfect space for sleeping, reading, bathing, and play. An outdoor tub hangs from the structure, overlooking the forest and closely connected with the Primary Suite’s indoor steam shower.

In its own separate mass, our small design studio greets its clients at the street, creating a clear division between work and home.