IN 1999 AN ARTIST AND HER ENTREPENEUR HUSBAND HIRED OUR FIRM TO GENERATE DESIGN IDEAS FOR A HISTORIC 1920'S PALO ALTO HOME THEY WERE CONSIDERING PURCHASING. THEIR PROGRAM AT THAT TIME INCLUDED A KITCHEN REMODEL AND SOME MINOR INTERIOR COSMETIC CHANGES.

AS WE BEGAN EXPLORING DESIGN POSSIBILITIES, HOWEVER, WE REALIZED THAT WHAT THE CLIENTS WANTED WAS A HOUSE THAT EXPRESSED THEIR PARTICULAR ARTISTIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VISION. THEY WANTED A PLACE THAT IS OPEN TO ITS SURROUNDINGS WHILE OFFERING PRIVACY; THAT IS MATERIALLY RICH BUT SUBTLE; AND THAT OFFERS A SENSE OF ARTISTRY IN THE ARCHITECTURE.

THE COMPLETE PROJECT SURROUNDS A COURTYARD, MERGING THE OLD AND NEW SECTIONS OF THE HOUSE. THE NEW PAVILION CONTAINS A LIBRARY AND ARTIST'S STUDIO, MEANT TO BE A CONTEMPLATIVE SPACE, OPEN TO LANDSCAPE AND THE ATMOSPHERE. IT USES A PALETTE OF MATERIALS THAT CHANGE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY, DEPENDING ON THE COLOR OF THE LIGHT, WOOD, TYPES OF GLASS, AND CONCRETE.

ARCHITECT: JOSEPH BELLOMO ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: C.M. PELETZ CO., DAVID MARKHAM
CLIENT: DAVID AND SILKE HENKEL-WALLACE

BACK | UP | NEXT

© Copyright 2006 - 2007 AIA Santa Clara Valley Chapter