Perched atop a precipitous site, the building has 180 degree views with a deck that runs around its perimeter. The original central courtyard, once open-to-sky, becomes the kitchen – an appropriate gesture for an aspiring baker and a family that sees the kitchen as the heart of the house. A large circular skylight streams daylight into the kitchen with its custom curved casework.
From the main entrance, visitors can effortlessly progress through the living room, kitchen, and spacious deck, before circumnavigating the house via wrap-around walkway. A concentric hallway drapes around the kitchen leading to discrete pie-shaped rooms – carefully arranged; demarcating the private from the public. A cuneate outdoor deck is strategically carved out at the intersection of the Great Room and kitchen – framing unparalleled views of the Bay. Tall pocket doors from both spaces vanish into the walls, asserting a strong indoor-outdoor connection. The more modest perimeter deck allows outdoor access from all the bedrooms, while curved landscape walls radiate outward merging into softscape.
A Japanese style of charred wood siding, called Shou Sugi Ban, and seamless concrete floors in combination with hardwood floors add warmth and richness to an otherwise minimalist interior. Due to the challenges of its circular form, the project team had to look for creative solutions in each aspect of the venture. Most conventional solutions favor straight geometry, which made for a refreshing intervention that is an honest response to the constraints of this unique project.
Project name: Round House
Architect: Feldman Architecture – https://feldmanarchitecture.com/
Location: Los Altos Hills, California, United States
Area: 5103 ft²
Year: 2020
Photographer: Adam Rouse – https://www.adamrousephotography.com/
Manufacturers: Aquatica, Blomberg, Bocci, Crosswater, Delta Millworks, Fleetwood, Gino Sarfatti, Ralph King Cabinetry, Sub-Zero, Wilsonart
Civil Engineering: Lea + Braze Engineering Inc
Landscape Design: Variegated Green
Structural Engineering: BKG Structural Engineers
Geotechnical Consulting: Romig Engineers Inc
Lighting: Tucci Lighting
Partner In Charge: Steven Stept
Project Manager: Anjali Iyer
Designer: Humbeen Geo
Arborist: Urban Tree Management
General Contractor: Baywest Builders