|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Creating a new 2,928-square-foot home to fit on a 7,540-square-foot lot located in a flood zone in Palo Alto’s Palo Verde neighborhood was a bit like putting together a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle.
The owners wanted their house to be light and airy, yet private from neighbors and the street. They wanted lots of functions — including a family room, music room and prayer room, with plenty of easily accessible bookcases and reading spaces in multiple rooms.
The existing 1950s-era home included “odd” additions made to it over the years, and the floorplan wouldn’t work for their needs. The simplest solution was a new home.
Before architects could even tackle the floor plan, however, they had to deal with the home’s location in an area designated as a flood plain by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
One challenge of the design, according to Klopf Architecture, was keeping a low profile and proportional design while still meeting the FEMA floodplain requirement that the finished floor be raised about 3 feet above the ground.
The outdoor kitchen. Photo by Mariko Reed, courtesy Klopf Architecture. 
The courtyard. Photo by Mariko Reed, courtesy Klopf Architecture. 
The courtyard. Photo by Mariko Reed, courtesy Klopf Architecture. 
The living room. Photo by Mariko Reed, courtesy Klopf Architecture. 
The kitchen. Photo by Mariko Reed, courtesy Klopf Architecture.
PROJECT DETAILS
Goal:
- Create a new light-filled house with privacy from neighbors and street, with plenty of room for books
Challenges:
- Flood-plain regulations require house be 3 feet above ground
Year house built:
- 2022
Size of home, lot:
- 2,928-sq.-ft. house; 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths (including attached ADU) on 7,540-sq.-ft. lot
Lead project architect Angela Todorova of Klopf Architecture said the first proposed solution called for piers sunk 18 to 25 feet into the clay soil, but that increased the budget too much. Instead, they came up with a plan to build the home on a heavily reinforced concrete slab.
From the front of the property, it’s not noticeable that the house is positioned above ground level. To enter the home, however, one must go up four steps to the front door — and back down four steps to the backyard.
C-through house | Embarcadero Media | designed by Linda TaaffeA ‘C’-shaped idea
The next challenge was how to create a functional home with lots of privacy on the small lot.
The solution: A C-shaped house built around a central courtyard with a private rear yard and an attached ADU at the back, which enabled the family to increase their square footage substantially.
Now known as the “C-through” house for its shape and open views, the new home maximizes the lot’s available space while providing privacy.
“The idea is to clearly see through all spaces,” said John Klopf, principal architect and founder of Klopf Architecture.
The new house features four bedrooms (including the attached ADU), a separate family room with a window seat, a music room, a prayer room and a large living space that opens to the private small courtyard, as well as a large covered patio at the rear. Mature trees from when the previous 1950s-era home on the site were preserved around the perimeter of the lot, and new ones planted, for private indoor-outdoor living.
Interior details
Entering the house, one can see straight through to the courtyard, living room and back patio. Turn left from the front entry and one enters the kitchen, with its nearly 17-foot-long island, which includes an induction cooktop and an eating area.
Throughout the house — kitchen and bathrooms — Henrybuilt walnut cabinetry is complemented by white CaesarStone countertops. A countertop runs along the kitchen, into the living room and continues to the outdoor kitchen.
A coffee maker is built into the cabinets, and the large refrigerator sits behind walnut panels — as do the wine refrigerator and dishwasher. The exhaust fan is flush to the ceiling.
The living room is positioned at the rear of the house, opening to the back patio and courtyard. Outside, the roof — which features embedded heaters under the eaves — overhangs the outdoor kitchen, creating “a place to hang out all year round,” Todorova said.
Room for an extensive book collection
Because the family owned many original, signed books or collectible sets, they asked for book storage at hand’s reach and to make sure the books couldn’t be damaged by UV rays, Todorova said. That storage was cleverly incorporated into many rooms in the house, with two-sided bookshelves open to both the kitchen and the stairwell. Some books are protected by glass doors.
Up the stairwell, which receives lots of natural sunlight from above, are three bedrooms, as well as a family room (with more books).
RESOURCES
- Architect: Klopf Architecture (project team — John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova, Lucie Danigo), San Francisco, 415-691-7227
- Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers, Redwood City, 650-394-8869
- Landscape Architect: Outer Space Landscape Architects, San Francisco, 415-643-1840
- Contractor: Coast to Coast Development, San Carlos, 650-654-6412,
The ADU (attached to the back of the main house and entered through a side door) is a large studio with a bathroom and kitchenette — and room for a piano. The owners plan to use the studio for visiting relatives.
While the design allows for lots of light, space and privacy, not everything on the wish list could be achieved. The property owners wanted a two-car garage, but given the setback requirements, they had to settle for a one-car version. This opened up the opportunity for them to instead add a music room.
“They wanted enough functionality, but it didn’t need to be a 6,000-square-foot home,” Klopf said.
Freelance writer Carol Blitzer is a regular contributor to the Real Estate section.
