For two parents with demanding jobs in Silicon Valley, a quiet home where they could unplug was an ideal that they set out to achieve — despite the fact that they have three children. They wanted a comfortable place that was in tune with the elements, where warm summer days and cool winter nights could be enjoyed with equal opportunity. And when they hired CCS Architecture to transform land that was once an orchard into a property, they asked architect Cass Calder Smith for the process to be a joint effort. "I like to end up with two lists: one that is about aspirations for their home which is more narrative, while the other being about requirements," he said. In the end, they created a minimalist design that openly merges the outdoors with the indoors through interconnected breezeways and sliding glass doors. Smith and the couple also united on the quest to make the 6,000-square-foot house sustainable, so they chose materials that would decrease energy usage. The collaboration, Smith believes, was key to creating a great design. Now the family has the perfect haven to get away from it all, even though they live in the most technology-minded area in the country.
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