A Couple Builds a Silicon Valley Property With Nature, Not Technology, in Mind

Silicon Valley is known for "disruption," but not necessarily for tranquility. So when a technology investor and a psychotherapist set out to create a home in the area, they imagined it as an amalgam: a peaceful retreat where their family would be removed from the digital noise. "The clients wanted a very California house: one that was simple, warm, and modern," explained architect Malcolm Davis. "Therefore, strong indoor-outdoor connections and sustainability were important factors." The couple chose a site that was once an old farmhouse, but years of renovations had stripped it of its character. The first step, then, involved dismantling the structure and repurposing the salvaged materials in the construction of the new address. Once that was complete, Davis devised an H-shaped layout that would maximize sunlight and create a connection to the towering redwoods and oak trees beyond the proposed frame. "Another important design move was preserving a 100-year-old, above-ground concrete cistern, a remnant of the site's agrarian history," Davis said. "The house subtly refers to the cistern with concrete elements, including a generous staircase that gracefully connects the courtyard to the pool deck." It's a tranquil place, indeed, and one that feels more connected to the natural world than to the plugged-in one.