Mill Valley Residence

Mill Valley, California

CCS Architecture have designed a home for a couple in Mill Valley, California. The site was the inspiration and the guiding element for the architecture: vast views of Mt. Tamalpais, intimate connections to groves of redwood trees, and a steep incline. The lower floor is built into the hillside, while the upper two are open to daylight and views. The first floor includes the garage, entry, painting studio, gallery, and guest quarters. The top floor contains two bedrooms, a home office, and a ramped bridge that leads to an upper yard and pool. Natural copper is the primary exterior material, wrapping the second floor of the house to emphasize the location of the main living spaces. Walls below the second level are exposed concrete; those above are cement plaster. The interior evokes the feeling of a gallery in the country, with white walls, expanses of glass, and wide-plank oak floors.