* Residential Architecture: Otter Cove Residence by Sagan Piechota Architecture

Residential Architecture: Otter Cove Residence by Sagan Piechota Architecture: “..Private cliffside residence just south of Carmel, California with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean.  10,000 sq ft curvilinear design composed of contrasting fields of glass, stone, steel and wood with interior and exterior landscaped ‘courtyards’..Upper Level: Four en-suite bedrooms, powder room, three-car garage. Open plan kitchen, dining and living rooms feature two fireplaces – expansive light exposure from both East and West directions. Lower Level: Offices, en-suite bedroom, screening room, gym, game room, bar & lounge..”  Breath-taking site and views, extensive glazing, clerestory windows, natural light; interesting interior volumes and materiality..

designalog : contact

image: © Joe Fletcher; article: ”Otter Cove Residence / Sagan Piechota Architecture” 19 Dec 2009. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/43954&gt;

* Residential Architecture: Cottages in the Mill Valley Forest by Feldman Architecture

Residential Architecture: Cottages in the Mill Valley Forest by Feldman Architecture: “..”We definitely wanted to make this project as ‘green’ as possible, and to have it be visually integrated into the land,” said architect Jonathan Feldman. The solution was two separate buildings, nestled on flat sites against the hillside. The lower studio, visible from the windows above, got live plants on the roof.. The cedar-sided studios have a pre-weathered stain, to give them a patina that requires no further maintenance.. Landscape architect Jori Hook and the client, an avid gardener, worked together to choose plants for the roof. “The property is landscaped in a very natural and sensitive way, with native plants,” said Feldman..”  From the excellent Remodelista..article includes many nice photos..

image: Joe Fletcher; article: Remodelista, by Michelle

designalog: contact

* Residential Architecture: Altamira Residence by Marmol Radziner

Residential Architecture: Altamira Residence by Marmol Radziner: “..Not wanting to disturb the land more than necessary, the four separate buildings–main house, study, guest house, and garage–were cut into the terrain reducing the need to grade the site.  As a result, the subterranean garage and partially buried main house seem to emerge from the ground as the land slopes toward the ocean.  Not only did submerging the buildings reduce the amount of site work required, it also preserved the ocean view for the surrounding neighborhood..Connections to the site extend beyond the physical locations of the structures and outdoor areas to the selection of building and landscape materials that repeat the colors and textures indigenous to the area.  Local shale was used to clad the concrete walls, the landscape boulders were harvested from a nearby quarry, and the over 30,000 plants were contract-grown from native California seed..”  Extensive glazing, lovely views, careful elaboration of landscaping and plantings, locally sourced materials, stone and wood, used extensively in the interior..

See our posts on three other homes by Marmol Radziner: Residential Architecture: Palms Residence by Marmol Radziner, Residential Architecture: Desert House by Marmol Radziner and Residential Architecture: Hawkesbury Residence by Marmol Radziner.

image: Steve Guntner, Benny Chan, and Joe Fletcher; article: Contemporist

designalog: contact

* Residential Architecture: Caterpillar House by Feldman Architecture

Residential Architecture: Caterpillar House by Feldman Architecture: “..[a] project with a love of modern ranch houses and looking for an environmentally-conscious response to a beautiful site. The Caterpillar House implements sustainable elements while exploring a contemporary version of the ranch ideals: massing that is low and horizontal, an open plan with a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, and main living areas which center informally on the kitchen..”  Context sensitive, abundant light..

designalog: contact

image: Joe Fletcher; article: King , Victoria . “Caterpillar House / Feldman Architecture” 09 Mar 2012. ArchDaily.  <http://www.archdaily.com/215099&gt;