The structure floats on piers, allowing the building to participate in dialogue with the trees on site while protecting the root areas. The floor plate projects beyond the building envelope and dissolves into balconies to blur the sense of indoor/outdoor while at the same time lifting the building up from the ground. Even the driveway is constructed out of floating concrete structural slabs supported on piers to minimize the impact on the heritage oak tree.
A thoughtfully placed second story apartment is designed for rentals. Diffused natural light streams into the space throughout the day, working gently with the clean material palette of concrete and Alaskan yellow cedar. The Sanctuary was constructed as a modern house that allows the landscape to speak first. The design features its many hidden courtyards, inviting guests to experience the same sense of wonder that first drew our clients to this urban oasis.
Project name: The Sanctuary House
Architects: Feldman Architecture – http://www.feldmanarchitecture.com/
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Area: 4289 ft²
Year: 2019
Photographer: Joe Fletcher – http://www.joefletcherphoto.com/
Interiors: Feldman Architecture
Landscape Architects: Ground Studio
Arborist: Urban Tree Management
Structural Engineer: Strandberg Engineering
Lighting: Kim Cladas Lighting Design
Builder: Baywest Builders
Geotechincal Engineer: Romig Engineers Inc.
Civil Engineer: BKF Engineers
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Residential Honor Award, AIA Silicon Valley Design Awards, 2018
Honor Award, IIDA Northern California Awards, 2020
Custom Urban Home Citation Award, Residential Design Magazine Awards, 2020
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