The newly designed house takes full advantage of the potential of this beautiful site — a living room and lounge area open to a large deck cantilevered high above the ground and oriented to the northern views. The feeling of being “in the trees” enhances the connection to the impressive landscape.
2M Architecture designed our home in Massachusetts several years ago. (Yes, the news of phenomenal people spreads far and wide.) After much give and take, the house couldn’t be any more perfect. We wake up each morning and feel very blessed to have worked with a team who listened so carefully to our needs and desires. Our house is absolutely perfect, and working with the 2M team was a delight.
— SHERYL L.
Very pleased with ability to listen to our lifestyle and build house to suit it. Very pleased with final product and before and after pictures say it all. We still have people stopping and taking pictures.”
— DAN T.
Belmont, California
Project Description
The steep hillside lot had been developed with a single-family residence (1965), which was at the maximum area for local zoning; therefore, the only way to enlarge the residence was to add a basement. During the cost analysis process, it became clear that supporting the house while creating a basement – and then substantially remodeling the remaining structure would require far more effort and treasure than to replace the house entirely.
Located just over 1 mile from the San Andreas Fault, the Owners tasked the design team to find a superior solution to the “Life Safety” standard required by Code. The team combined advances in seismic analysis and building technology to create for the owners one of the most seismically resilient houses built in the US.
The newly designed house takes full advantage of the potential of this beautiful site. The home centers on large public rooms opening to outdoor spaces, the use of natural light. On the top level, the kitchen and family room sit side-by-side creating a shared space, with an expansive floor-to-ceiling folding door system allowing the rooms to open completely to the south-facing upper terrace and garage roof deck. An outdoor cooking area supports both family dinners as well as large gatherings of friends and family. Also on the top level, a living room and lounge area open to a large deck cantilevered high above the ground and oriented to the northern views. The feeling of being “in the trees” enhances the connection to the impressive landscape.
Project Team
Architecture: Marc Lindsell, 2M Architecture
Interiors: Mark Tetrault, 2M Architecture
Lighting Consultant: Techlinea, Alfredo Zaparolli
Mechanical: Timmons Design Engineers, Sean Timmons
Structural: Randy Collins, FTF Engineering with Fred H. Schott & Associates
Geotechnical: PG Soils, Paul Grishaber with J.P. Singh & Associates
Civil: VIA Engineering, Vlad Iojica
Landscape: Kimberly Moses Design
Photographer: Treve Johnson
Builder: Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders
