Open to the public, this self-guided tour is a celebration of residential homes designed by architects. The dwellings featured are cutting edge, modern in design, imaginative in the uses and blends of materials, and sensitive to both surrounding neighbors and the environment.
Through teamwork, collaboration, and a shared vision, the licensed architects bring their homeowners dreams to reality. The five homes are located in Los Gatos, Palo Alto, Redwood City, and Sunnyvale. These homes range in size from 2,633 to 5,745 SF.
Home 1
Los Gatos Tree House
Design Team
Architect: Noel F. Cross, AIA
Noel Cross+Architects
Location
Los Gatos, CA
The clients asked us to design their home based on another one story Prairie Style home we had designed on flat treeless lot in the hills above Los Gatos, saying “we want something exactly like this . . .” When we visited their site, we found two acres of steep hillsides covered with hundreds of mature oak trees along a seasonal creek. Inspired by the wooded site, we used similar exterior materials and roof forms, and quickly evolved the design into a contemporary tree house, taking advantage of forest setting. Only a handful of trees were removed.
The building forms, proportions, and fenestration echo the cadence and rhythm of the forest, and we incorporated exposed beams and overhangs with angled columns that emulate branch structures, with a stone base to anchor the building to the site.
“Living in the treetops” was the feeling we created, heightened by floor to ceiling glass framing views of the forest, where privacy was not a concern.
To conform to height restrictions and be a respectful neighbor, the home was tucked into the hillside to accommodate the garage and fire truck turnaround, and was sensitively designed to preserve the numerous mature oak trees, the most desirable natural feature of the parcel. The 5,750 s.f. home includes a below grade garage, wine cellar, and a spacious ADU, while preserving the existing swimming pool and 300 foot long driveway.
We maximized the building design, window orientations, and overhangs to take advantage of passive solar heating, natural lighting, and natural passive ventilation.
Of course a high performance building envelope keeps energy costs to a minimum. The home is all electric, using heat pumps for space and water heating, plus PV solar panels and Tesla Power Walls.
Home 2
Genevieve
Design Team
Architect: Cynthia Muñoz
Stoecker + Northway Architects
Location
Palo Alto, CA
A one-story single family home addition and renovation that was realized in five separate phases over the course of approximately 2-1/2 years. The property is located in a flood zone, and the phases were implemented to mitigate the need to raise the finish floor of the existing house.
Home 3
Jewel Box
Design Team
Architect: Karen Curtiss, AIA
Red Dot Studio Architecture and Design
Location
Redwood City, CA
This was a very big little project. Though the actual amount of addition was minimal (424 SF) the change to the building was both monumental and discreet. Our mandate was to create a new and daring addition to the home while maintaining the integrity of the original architect’s vision. Brick columns were retained or re-built and the new structure was knitted into old in the roof plane. Skylights changed the daylight profile of the home and views were linked to create a cohesive home in nature. The home became all electric, insulated and sustainable woods such as Sassafras were used. Client’s taste in color, art and light completed the vision.
Home 4
Three Gables
Design Team
Architect: Megan Blaine, AIA
BLAINE Architects
Location
Sunnyvale, CA
*This is the only ADA Accessible home on the 2024 Home Tours.
This single level home was designed for the wheelchair user and homeowner, and her family of 5. This family were looking for a special design that not only accommodated functional needs, but also lifted spirits and elevated their human experience.
We knew we had to design an addition for the homeowner’s primary bedroom and bathroom, and the way we achieved this was through an addition to the front of the home. We added to the rear of the home as well, to accommodate a larger living space since this family hosts large gatherings with friends quite often.
The three-gabled design of the home was a way to integrate the tired typical 1950’s style Sunnyvale ranch home with a modern design that awakens the spirits and ties the new with the old in an more interesting way.
We matched the existing home gable roof pitch to the addition for the accessible bedroom, and designed a slightly steeper pitch for the entryway to make the entry more prominent. Using unique siding for each of the 3 gables gave each gable a distinct personality, adding a bit of whimsy to the traditional stark modern home.
Home 5
Alpine House
Design Team
Architect: Tobin T. Dougherty, AIA
Tobin Dougherty Architects
Location
Los Gatos, CA
The Alpine House showcases a harmonious collaboration between the owner and architect, resulting in a meticulously crafted home. The client approached TDA after purchasing a half-acre lot in downtown Los Gatos, initially occupied by a different house and multiple ADUs. Through an extensive design process, the team transformed the property into a cohesive estate featuring a main residence, outdoor entertaining spaces, a pool pavilion, and a guest house.
From the street, the residence exudes a charming, human-scale presence, blending with the historic character of the neighborhood. A key element of the design is the discreet placement of the garage behind the front façade and beneath the main house, as requested by the client. A gated pathway leads through an entry garden to a classic front porch, which opens to a double-height foyer and dining room. The home boasts luxurious ceiling heights, with open-beam vaulted ceilings ranging from 10 to 14 feet.
The floor plan is designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living and entertaining, featuring three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a four-car garage, and a wine cellar. The backyard ADU includes one bedroom, one bathroom, and a fully equipped open-concept kitchen.
TDA’s work began with a thorough investigation to determine if the existing house had any historical significance. Once the investigation was completed and with the approval of the City of Los Gatos, the demolition of the original structures was authorized. TDA re-engineered the site topography to meet the client’s vision of a concealed four-car garage and a strategically placed ADU. Minimal excavation was required for the new garage, repurposing the space of a former basement. The ADU was located at the rear of the property to take advantage of the natural slope of the land, thus ensuring that it met the city’s height restrictions.
This reimagined Alpine House stands as a model of thoughtful design and meticulous execution, blending modern luxury with historical sensitivity
What makes the Silicon Valley Home Tours different than other home tours?
The Silicon Valley Home Tours was created to showcase the talents of Bay Area residential architects with the goal of educating homeowners. On the tour, you will observe first-hand how working with an architect can transform ordinary living spaces into responsive, tailored, domestic environments using a variety of design solutions.
To learn more, please contact the AIA Silicon Valley at 408-298-0611 or email [email protected].