Garay Residence, Tiburon, California. Designed by Swatt Architects. Photos by Russell Abraham. Built by Jamba Construction.

Finalist in the 2011 CHBA Alberta Housing Awards of Excellence

This formally Edwardian home was seismically upgraded and completely remodeled into a modern residence consisting of concrete, steel and glass. The three story structure is served by an elevator and rests on an exposed concrete garage accessed by a grated aluminum gate. An eight by six foot anodized aluminum pivoting front door opens up to a geometric stair case with etched Starfire guardrails. The stainless steel Bulthaup kitchen and module systems include a 66 foot counter that spans the depth of the home. Photos: Marion Brenner Architect: Stanley Saitowitz

Powder bath with yellow painted mirrors, pedestal sink and stained concrete floor. Photo by David Friday Photography

In this clean, warm bathroom, delicacy is in the Asian-meets-contemporary details. The elegant line of the bamboo ladder becomes an inventive towel rack and the light framework of the paneling in the walls and windows adds balance and structure with plenty of room for light to flow in.

Our designs for these two speculative houses in Noe Valley were inspired by the atrium houses designed in the 50’s for Bay Area developer Joseph Eichler. Entered via bridges from the street, the two houses share a sunken forecourt with stairs down to the lower level. A gull wing roof design and cantilevered elements at the front and rear of the house evoke the spirit of mid-Century modernism. The steeply down-sloping lot allowed us to provide sweeping views of the city from the two upper levels. Tall, skylit master suites at the lowest levels open out onto decks and the garden. Originally designed as mirrored images of each other, the design evolved through the negotiations of the right and left neighbors to respond to their differing needs.

Foto: Fredric Boukari

Nick Smith www.nsphotography.co.uk Designer:Adaptations

Photo by Karl Beath. Architecture & Interiors by MHN Design Union

Russell Abraham