Tamalpais Residence

Project Details

Project Description

On a steep slope site overlooking a valley near San Francisco, Jim Zack saw an opportunity in a 1969 “kit home” in need of an update. Zack purchased the property with approved permits to remodel; to save time and money, the team worked within the house’s original 24-foot by 48-foot footprint.

The new, modern home boasts a flexible floorplan to accommodate a variety of needs for the unknown user, including two master suites. Zack and his team were also focused on energy-efficiency, so they worked with an energy consultant to design the home as close as possible to net-zero and installed a solar power system. Low-maintenance and fire resistant stucco and Corten weathered steel siding, which the team customized themselves, cover the home’s exterior. The low-maintenance exterior theme is continued with unsealed bamboo used for the 2,000+ square feet of deck.

Along the corner of the home’s double-height living room is a stream of thermally broken, aluminum windows with a south facing view to show off the views of the valley below. The branch-like light fixture in the living room helps to fill the volume of the breathtaking space, Zack says. Adding to the modern design are stairs are made from water-jet cut steel with plastic treads; to accentuate the stairs’ height, Zack says, the team chose a long, glass globe light fixture.--by Marisa Mendez

To see a video of this project, click here.