On the eastern edge of California’s Tiburon Peninsula, local firm Walker Warner Architects has designed Tiburon Bay View, a contemporary abode named after its sweeping vistas of the San Francisco Bay.

The clients, a family with a penchant for art and nature, wanted a spacious home with room for entertaining and multi-generational living. To minimize the visual heft of the resulting 12,000-square-foot abode, the architects terraced the two-story property into the hillside.

The series of low-slung horizontal volumes simulate the feeling of a compound. A natural material palette and large expanses of high-performance glazing further blend the architecture into the landscape.

“Truly at one with the landscape, the home’s material palette of Aegean limestone, western red cedar, zinc, and board-formed concrete make it feel one with its surroundings,” note the architects.

Interior designer Nicole Hollis further emphasized indoor/outdoor connections with a restrained, minimalist approach along with surface materials and custom furnishings that echo the exterior palette.

Oriented toward views of the bay, the main residence is split into two levels with the main living areas on the ground floor.

Shop the Look

The master suite and second bedroom are located upstairs, while the accessible in-law bedroom is placed on the main level. The guest wing houses two additional bedrooms.

The clients desire for an energy-efficient home lent support for a passive solar approach that includes large roof overhangs over walls of glass, automated solar shades, and an emphasis on natural ventilation.

Radiant heat has been installed throughout, along with Energy Star appliances, low-flow fixtures, LEDs, and occupancy sensors.

The architects add: “Inspired by the client’s appreciation for art and nature, the residence incorporates bold architectural moves that convey the element of surprise through unexpected spaces.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Walker Warner Architects / @walkerwarnerarchitects

Builder/ General Contractor: Van Acker Construction

Landscape Design Company: SCDA and Strata Landscape Architecture

Lighting Design: Eric Johnson Associates

Interior Design: NICOLEHOLLIS

Cabinetry Design/ Installation: Norris Woodworking

Appears In

An Energy-Conscious Home Gets Woven Into a Waterfront Landscape