A black background with white handwritten text that reads, "Do what makes you happy."
A group of five young women sitting outdoors at a picnic table, laughing and enjoying food and drinks during the daytime.
A person holding a smartphone with a colorful cityscape background at night.
A person holding a golf club, preparing to take a shot on a golf course.
A close-up of a church steeple with a cross on top against a cloudy sky.
Architectural model of a modern house with wooden interior walls, a white exterior structure, and four figures representing people, set on a wooden surface with a tree on the left, against a dark gray background.

ADAPTIVE ADDITION

Orinda, CA

The addition allows the home to be used in several “modes” increasing flexibility and choice for the owners over time.

The existing home is a small mid-century structure part way up a hill surrounded by trees.  The owners found it in poor shape and have been slowly nursing it back to health.  It’s as modest as it is functional.  A former owner built a rather awkward addition in the 1970s. It’s now time to rethink that area of the house.

The new intervention is intentionally simple, not competing with the existing home but learning from it.  It’s sited to take advantage of the views, the sun and breezes, operating as passively as possible.  This placement also creates a courtyard between the two structures, a shared space that also creates a bit of distance.

ORGANIZING ELEMENTS

REPLACE OLD ADDITION WITH A FLEXIBLE UNIT

Architectural model of a modern house with white and wooden exterior, featuring open interior spaces, seated figures, and a tree on a wooden base.

MODES

While the size of the home increases with the addition, so too do the possibilities.  With a few simple moves, the addition can switch between several “modes.”  Initially, it will be an office and studio for the couple (Mode 2), who now both work at home, and have frequent family guests, including a child in college.  In this mode, the addition ties seamlessly into the circulation of the original house. In Mode 1, it’s a separate unit that can be used for guests, rented out or eventually house their aging parents.  In Mode 3, it’s a master suite, extending the home into a four bedrooms that fit into current neighborhood market expectations in some future transaction that they would rather not think about.

MODE 1

MODE 2

MODE 3

EXISTING HOUSE AND COURTYARD

Architectural model of a modern house with white walls, flat roof, a large tree, and a human figure for scale.
Modern living room with large windows showing autumn trees, white sofa with pillows, wooden dining table, built-in kitchen with light wood cabinets, and a white bookshelf with books and decorative items.
A miniature architectural model of a modern, white, single-story house with large windows and open interior spaces, placed on a wooden surface.

ROOF TERRACE STUDY

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PROJECTS