DETAILS +

Perched over the crest of a hill with 270 degree views of the San Franscisco Bay, this is one of the most remarkable sites that we’ve had the privilege to work on.

Add to that the nests of ospreys on the site, their residents flying in lazy circles over the trees, and the design of this house almost created itself.

Playing off of the forms of the existing site walls, the house is laid out as a series of concentric arcs that step up and over the crest of the hill, maximizing views and creating gently curved interior spaces. Each arc received a separate shed roof sloping toward the center, the angles slowly increasing as they stey step up to suggest the movement of the osprey's wings. Likewise, the loose butterfly roof configuration allows for the entire roof to drain to a single location, eliminating the need for gutters and allowing for a clean, seamless roofline.

Inside, the stepped plan allows for a series of discrete but interconnected spaces that connect through a series of choreographed stairs, bridges and passages.

CLIENT: PRIVATE

PROGRAM: 3,950 SF NEW SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE

YEAR: COMPLETED 2007

TEAM: HALPERIN AND CHRIST ARCHITECTS (MISTY KAPLAN / FIFTH WALL - PROJECT DESIGN, PROJECT MANAGER)

PHOTO CREDITS: MISTY KAPLAN, ZILLOW

Perched over the crest of a hill with 270 degree views of the San Franscisco Bay, this is one of the most remarkable sites that we’ve had the privilege to work on.

Add to that the nests of ospreys on the site, their residents flying in lazy circles over the trees, and the design of this house almost created itself.

Playing off of the forms of the existing site walls, the house is laid out as a series of concentric arcs that step up and over the crest of the hill, maximizing views and creating gently curved interior spaces. Each arc received a separate shed roof sloping toward the center, the angles slowly increasing as they stey step up to suggest the movement of the osprey's wings. Likewise, the loose butterfly roof configuration allows for the entire roof to drain to a single location, eliminating the need for gutters and allowing for a clean, seamless roofline.

Inside, the stepped plan allows for a series of discrete but interconnected spaces that connect through a series of choreographed stairs, bridges and passages.