Location: Los Altos Hills, California

Client: Private Owner

This 6,800 square foot single story home is high above the southern end of the San Francisco Bay on a 12 acre site. The project represents a substantial expansion and remodel of an important modern house designed in the mid-1950’s by John Funk and featured in Sally Woodbridge’s Bay Area Houses. The house had been defaced over recent years and had fallen into disrepair. The design preserves all primary steel structure and window frames, the principal ceiling plane, and the original thermal concrete floor slab which ran throughout the original house. The original house was expanded to accommodate the activities of a young and growing family of five. Accordingly, kitchen and dining spaces were expanded at the perimeter of the building envelope and maximize natural daylight. Deep overhangs protect glazed wall expanses from solar heat gain while operable awnings allow ample cross ventilation to provide a passive cooling system. New skylight monitors provide natural light to the interior of the house. Interior play and study spaces were introduced at both ends of the house to allow parental supervision and proximity to young children. The original bedroom wing was expanded to include interior wardrobe and storage as well as expanded bath and dressing spaces. Three children’s bedrooms and bath areas were added centered on a library/play area.