Atop a hill overlooking the San Francisco Bay, a substantial landscaped plinth had been constructed—formed by the layering of a subterranean garage and a “mermaid room,” a partially sunken space with views into a geometrically intricate swimming pool. When our clients acquired the property, they engaged us to preserve this existing platform and design a new, fully integrated residence.

Material selections were guided by durability and ease of maintenance: integrally colored stucco, powder-coated aluminum windows, copper gutters and downspouts, and a clay tile roof. These choices collectively informed a massing that evokes the timeless presence of a villa perched on a hillside.

Completed: 2001
Architect: Caitlin Lempres Brostrom, First Bay Architecture
Contractor: Andrioni Construction