In the feature, writer Zahid Sardar describes the project as “a contrarian’s retreat,” reflecting the homeowners’ decision to expand into a larger natural setting rather than downsize. The 5,800-square-foot residence sits on 13 partially wooded acres in Woodside, California, on a hillside shaped by mature redwoods, Douglas fir, orchard plantings, and long views toward the Bay and Mount Diablo.
Organized in a T-shaped plan, the home includes a two-story east-west core with single-story wings extending north and south. From above, the structure reads as a low horizontal form carefully set into the slope. Flat and subtly folded zinc roofs with deep overhangs conceal solar panels from view. Public spaces occupy the north wing, where expansive glass walls framed by sinker cypress mullions open toward the landscape. Clerestory windows provide cross ventilation, reinforcing the home’s environmental responsiveness.
As noted in the article, configuring the floor-to-ceiling window walls without visible structural posts was among the most technically demanding aspects of the design. Board-formed concrete walls act as structural spines between public and private zones, while wide horizontal wood cladding reinforces the relationship between architecture and hillside. Steel elements, including stair rails and the vertical fireplace surround, are acid-blackened to introduce warmth within a restrained material palette.
The central wing includes a family room opening to an ipe deck, guest rooms arranged around a gravel courtyard, and an upstairs primary suite positioned above the main living space. Radiant-heated floors in blue stone and white oak extend throughout. A separate 1,100-square-foot pool house, set approximately 500 feet from the main residence, mirrors the material language of the primary structure and connects through walking paths and outdoor dining terraces near the orchard.
Landscape architect Bernard Trainor introduced drought-tolerant ornamental grasses suited to Woodside’s terrain, reducing irrigation needs while maintaining the character of the site. Interior designer Douglas Durkin worked with a simplified palette derived from the architecture and surrounding landscape so that, as he explains, “the views outside are what catch the eye.”
The article underscores the importance of siting, slope management, and regional building guidelines in the design of contemporary homes in Woodside. Experience with topographically complex Peninsula properties and local planning requirements shaped the outcome of this modern hillside residence, a project that reflects our ongoing work in custom residential architecture throughout Woodside and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.