Comments on: The Mill Valley Residence by McGlashan Architecture

By: Deborah McDonnell

Deborah McDonnell — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:45:49 +0000

I stumbled on this somehow and just want to say that the house is beautiful and sits well in the surrounding hills, unlike many monstrosities in Mill Valley. Just gorgeous.

By: syrain architect

syrain architect — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:12:22 +0000

The composing between nature and building and way used the roof was perfect

By: Friend

Friend — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:47:38 +0000

This is a pretty house, and it’s nice to see such an extensive green roof. However, I have some issues. First, the personal. My dad grew up playing on that hill before there were any houses on it and it’s sad to see all that beautiful land privatized. Also, it would be hard to believe that the green features of this dwelling can begin to make up for its size and the wastefulness of completely redoing the relatively new mansion already on that site.

By: Stephnicwat

Stephnicwat — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:59:26 +0000

It’s a pretty house, but it looks cold and uninviting. It’d be nice to stay in for a while… but not to live in.

By: Manuj Darshan

Manuj Darshan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:15:52 +0000

Wonderful. Perfect!

By: Online hry

Online hry — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:33:47 +0000

Only one word – Amazing!

By: Peter bevan

Peter bevan — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:09:45 +0000

Nope, not for me. It lacks art. Look at the antler on the floor with the staircase, what??? kinda corny to me. The kitchen counters are way too thick and are out of color. The bathroom is cumbersome…no smooth lines or transitions…yechh!
There’s nothing in this house that wants to grab you and have you say “wow”!
The only redeemable feature of this home is the outside…splendid, the home fits lovely in it’s setting and the design works for me.

By: michael

michael — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:50:34 +0000

Great piece of Architectural mortal, thanks for sharing us.

By: Eamonn

Eamonn — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:39:48 +0000

Love the eco firendly house and the spirtiual feeling that flows from it (the pictures at least). If you’re strapped for cash and need a quick sale give me a call.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:55:36 +0000

Wonderful. Thanks for putting this up on stumbleupon. Look forwasr to more.

By: Scott McGlashan

Scott McGlashan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:09:55 +0000

Sima, I appreciate the “house as microcosm of oppressive class structure” critique, but the lower unit also has views from every room. The blue kitchen, full of light, is downstairs. Marx gets no traction among such serfs.

By: Scott McGlashan

Scott McGlashan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:57:22 +0000

Thanks, all, for the comments. I’m very flattered.
Sandra, we included a small elevator (just big enough for a wheelchair and attendant) so that the owners could plan to live there for the rest of their lives.
JCB, you’re right that it doesn’t match the prevailing woodsy Mill Valley feel, which I really like. It’s not, though, in the woodsy, hobbitty part of MV. It’s on one of the more open, grassy hillsides, so it didn’t feel right to try to replicate old dark rustic feel there.
Ian, you’re right that we’d all sink if everybody lived in homes like this. On the other hand, these two homes add up to about 5,500 sf, making them about the size of the average new American home. Rather restrained, given the context.

Thanks again for all the nice words!

By: Alan Scott

Alan Scott — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:33:32 +0000

Ian,

Did you read that the house is for a very large family? Would it be more sustainable for them to go live in seperate houses? I doubt it.

Also, architects are not the ones who decide how large a house will be. The owners who hire the architects are the deciders.

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:33:23 +0000

Great home !

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:06:29 +0000

Beautifully built home, can appreciate many of the architectural attributes but still shudder at the size and overbuild of it. When will architects learn that bigger is not better, and that a homes like this are not sustainable.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:17:40 +0000

I live in Mill Valley and this is an enviable home for the way that we live. The level of privacy that you have is fantastic and I envy the space. Because the county is 75% free space that all people can use to hike, bike, etc., lots are smaller as are homes in most cases. This is a fabulous place. Having your daughter and family living so close by makes it a dream!

By: JCB

JCB — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:46:42 +0000

Thanks Dave, had missed the fireplace. That said, Mill Valley: quaint, idyllic, redwood stands, Muir Woods, Buddhist Zen Center in the lowlands, the Dipsea Trail run. Take a look at the MV library, in quiet architectural harmony.
This house … has an ice-blue kitchen!

By: Jim Aaron

Jim Aaron — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:39:06 +0000

Sorry, I just don’t see anything at all about this house that would justify the gushing going on here. Other than a green roof (a fine feature but not unique in any way) and some recycled materials there isn’t much of interest, as JCB said above “Nouveau riche, corporate” pretty much sums it up.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:01:12 +0000

JCB, the 11th picture shows the living room with a fireplace.

By: JCB

JCB — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:17:55 +0000

Where’s the fireplace? Where is the rustic redwood? How does this connect to the old Mill Valley community (having lived there)? Where is the warmth? Nouveau riche, corporate, belongs in nearby Tiburon.