OZ Residence by Swatt Miers Architects
Swatt Miers Architects have designed the OZ Residence in Silicon Valley, California.
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Description from the architect:
The new Oz Residence in Silicon Valley, California captures the essence of casual California living with open planning, rich natural materials, and strong visual connection to beautiful gardens designed by landscape architect Ron Herman.
The owners, a young couple with two young children, wanted their home to have a casual, barefoot feel, like a vacation destination. Their 2.8 acre site, with gentle slopes to the south and mature landscaping on all sides was the perfect setting to create a home that would fully engage the beautiful landscape. The home is organized into a ‘L’ shaped plan with 2 wings joined at a two-story great room. Sheathed in mahogany boards and fully glazed on two sides, this beautiful volume, pierced by a floating glass bridge, both connects and separates the family and sleeping wings on either side.
Visit the Swatt Miers Architects website – here.
Photography by Tim Griffith
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Maarit on 23 Jan 2012 at 12:32 am #
A casual, barefoot feel??? Anyway nice combination of dark wood, white stone and glass, especially in the corridor. But why spoil the beautiful wooden ceiling with spots, indirect lightining would have made the trick better.
Pierre KNOESEN on 23 Jan 2012 at 2:43 am #
Fantastic design! I’d love to walk barefoot on those floors, but no bookshelves ?
CL on 23 Jan 2012 at 7:37 am #
Absolutely stunning ! agree with previous poster though about the casual barefoot design, I don’t think that was achieved at all !
Daniel arev on 23 Jan 2012 at 9:43 am #
can someone say what is the floor made out of ?
the house is stunning – beautifully balanced. spot on !
Joseph Hoffman on 24 Jan 2012 at 12:20 pm #
Wow! An exceptional integration of natural elements, combined with everything you would hope for in an extremely functional living area, where class and refinement are paramount!
However, a Cantilevering Solid Wood Grain Staircase connecting the two levels would have set it off. The “Pacman” shaped front pool isn’t really doing it for me either, the design/architectural team could have come up with an idea that fit the theme of the rest of the residence…it looks thrown in last minute. Also, in shifting the entrance walkway and door over to provide a straight path as well as center the main door to the rest of the residence (east? 10ft), it would add an awe-inspiring feel that would allow guests to focus on the beauty of the estate, and not the sudden change in direction as you approach the main door, and mistakenly fall into the kiddy pool. For a house of this caliber, I expected better.
To Pierre KNOESEN, the book shelves are most likely in the library and/or study…they aren’t needed out in the main living area, as there is no space with the current design scheme. (not banter, just truth IMO)
With details such as a frosted glass walkway(in need of ambient LED lighting if not already in place), solid Granite floors, and clear glass skylights that provide a connected feel to the outside; is why this Estate is exceptional.
Very well done!
—Joe
SW on 25 Jan 2012 at 9:02 pm #
@ Joseph Hoffman: I think the angles in the entry path are designed to do the same as a path in a traditional Japanese garden, namely slow down a person’s gait and suddenly change their viewing angle to reveal a hidden detail.
@ Maarit: I think the spots are tastefully subdued. There is indirect lighting in the kitchen area, though I agree that some integrated LED illumination on the glass bridge would be special…
Overall, another winner from Swatt Miers!