Oakland Hills Residence

This extensive remodel and addition is perched atop a ridge in the Oakland Hills. The existing house, which was originally built in 1980, was stylistically typical of what you would find in that era and did not take advantage of the spectacular views of Mount Diablo towards the east and the San Francisco Bay towards the west. The 3,000 existing square feet were comprised of small rooms and dark corridors. Interior and exterior finishes were removed to the stud and many interior walls were eliminated to create an open and spacious plan, taking advantage of the view from virtually everywhere within the house. Approximately 800 square feet were added to create a new two story entry foyer structure, a new study situated above of the existing roof line, and two new bedrooms at the lower level. While the owners wanted a clean, contemporary style, they did not want a stark white box. We used warm and natural materials, including ipe siding, integral color steel trowel finished stucco, zinc cladding and board form concrete to integrate the house in with its rural surroundings. Rich red woods and warm green stones were the prevalent materials selected for interior finishes, inspired by the many manzanita trees on the property. Completed in 2010 General Contractor: Abacus Group Builders Structural Engineer: Morris Engineering and Associates Photography: Mariko Reed Architectural Photography