Ward + Blake Architects

This extensive renovation of a 1980s Tudor-style residence made use of the original structure’s good “bones,” unique form, and excellent site orientation while shaping it to suit a modernist design sensibility and the family’s needs. A four- foot extension to existing kitchen and porch, a restructured master bedroom roofline and the reintroduction of a porte-cochere element transformed the look and function of the home (renamed Villa di Famiglia Vita). Conversion of unfinished attic to a children’s floor with dual bunkrooms, a playroom and open media room created a beloved space appropriately scaled to young users.

A low- maintenance material palette of Corten steel, Cem-Clad panels, steel, sod and cedar proceeding from exterior to interior spaces provides continuity. Enlarging existing and adding new window openings further opens the interior to its natural surroundings. Sod roofs added where possible also link outdoor environment with interior spaces while reducing temperature fluctuations for energy efficiency.

The interior’s most prominent element, a glass and steel staircase, winds through all three levels in an irregular zigzag configuration accentuated by its transparent quality. Douglas fir ceiling panels, bamboo floors, built-ins, architect-designed furniture and ponderosa pine-clad windows offer visual warmth and a sense of intimacy in priority interior spaces. Ultimately, the 85-percent renovation of the traditional original structure pairs architectural vision with the needs of a dynamic family for a uniquely modern reimagining of “home.”