l . a .  p a u l  &  a s s o c i a t e s

Havanan Residence

"Feng-suei" Style

Sausalito, California

 

Exterior

Interior

East meets West in this exciting, contemporary single-family residence high in the hills of Sausalito , California . Marrying modern building technology with philosophical principles from the Orient was the challenge posed by the owners, a young, professional couple. They asked that their home be designed according to ‘Feng-suei’ (Wind and Water), ancient Buddhist ideals for living, take maximum advantage of their panoramic views while respecting their neighbors’, and that the house become one with the site.

The solution took final shape after a year of study, exploring various alternatives with the owners and their Feng-suei consultant, who analyzed every aspect of the design for its favorable and unfavorable influences. The architect, becoming familiar with this philosophy, quickly realized that many of those same principles are ones embodied in classic architectural design, albeit from a different approach.

Due to stringent zoning restrictions for a small, hillside lot, the house is only 2,600 sq. ft. on three levels, though appearing much larger. The lower level contains the formal entry, a guest suite, and the 500 sq. ft. garage. The generous entry stairway leads to the intermediate level above, with living, dining, kitchen, pantry and laundry. Another monumental stair leads to the upper level, with the master suite, two additional bedrooms and a fourth bath. The master suite is oriented to a rear garden, connected by the adjacent sunroom (for the owners’ orchids) and has a superb view across the double-height living room to the panorama of upper San Francisco Bay . This dramatic view is the focus of the entire house, emphasized and enhanced by the extraordinary, two-story, “waterfall” solarium that articulates the entire house. Combined with the master suite solarium, these delicate, curving window-walls open the interior to the outside and soften the angular set-backs of the main structure.

As the house steps back into the steep hillside it respects the views from adjacent neighbors and achieves maximum privacy from the street for its owners. From the upper bedroom level, the most private, one can enter directly into the landscaped garden. It too, has been terraced to utilize the sloping site to maximum advantage. Complete with a man-made bubbling brook and pond to meditate beside, there is even a putting green for the owners, both of whom are avid golfers.

From the garden, a short climb to the rooftop yields a breath-taking panorama. A large, lighted redwood deck creates two “outdoor” rooms, one with wet bar and barbecue, for open-air entertaining day and night. As the garden is only a half-flight down the rooftop stair, exterior space becomes “split-level”, defining the separate functions.

As built, this custom residence is an outstanding example of good design religiously applied to every facet of the construction. A small house has been made large, light and open. An extremely steep site has been domesticated and used to the fullest. A normal crew of workmen and suppliers all became personally involved and dedicated to realizing the success of the project. And the owners achieved their dream-house, realizing peace, harmony and “Feng-suei” in the process.