Mysest56 
October 13, 2018
Our Expansive tour of modernist architecture in the USA Proceeds down the West Coast into northern California. The nation as a whole was the home to a number of the best and most powerful residential buildings since the middle of last century. But since the climate varies greatly from north to south, its residential architecture varies as well.
Northern California is essentially the top half of the country, encompassing San Francisco and the state capital Sacramento. The landscape is diverse and striking, marked by mountains, lakes, woods and, of course, the Pacific Ocean. An individual could assert that all residential buildings should be designed to frame the best aspects of its surroundings. In the event of northern California, that attractiveness is especially robust and certainly worthy of incorporating into a home’s design.
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | NY Metro | Oregon | Seattle | San Francisco | L.A. | Coastal L.A.
Mark pinkerton – vi360 photography
This interesting home near San Francisco seems to merge with its landscape. The plan is an interesting mix of stucco walls, expansive glass sections, dynamic roofs and various outdoor spaces.
Mark pinkerton – vi360 photography
The fairly benign climate of Northern California means that it’s typical for outdoor spaces to be well-integrated in to homes. This terrace has expansive mountain views, but it also has a feeling of enclosure which originates from the roof overhead and the adjoining walls. Dynamic, yet romantic.
Mark pinkerton – vi360 photography
Another outdoor area looks outward to the stunning mountain landscape. Ideally, outdoor spaces must react to both the landscapes they forget along with also the functions of the adjoining rooms, so this patio might be located next to a bedroom while the one in the former photo would appeal to the living regions of the home.
Sagan / Piechota Architecture
This home is located on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the Monterey Peninsula, a few hours south of San Francisco.
Sagan / Piechota Architecture
With the Pacific Ocean as one’s garden, it’s not surprising to see massive windows taking in the view of the water and rocks.
Sagan / Piechota Architecture
The very same architects crafted this home in Napa, a wine-making area just north of San Francisco. As the building steps down the landscape, it opens itself to the perspective. The mixture of covered and open outdoor areas generates a feeling of equilibrium.
Anderson Anderson Architecture
This very low home is located on the grounds of an apple orchard just a little bit north of San Francisco. Poured-in-place concrete piers separate the home into bays.
Anderson Anderson Architecture
The perimeter includes sheltered outdoor spaces which connect the inside spaces with the orchards beyond.
Anderson Anderson Architecture
Inside is where the layout really makes sense. The strongly horizontal layout of the home is more spacious than it looks from the outside. The minimal roof combined with the concrete piers frame pieces of the orchard perspective, visually enticing the landscape inside the home.
Cary Bernstein Architect
The aptly called Ridge House overlooks a valley in Sonoma County, another wine and agricultural area north of San Francisco. The location’s exposure to sunlight and wind is tempered by overhanging roofs which mimic the way the home itself follows the ridgeline.
Cary Bernstein Architect
Decks ring the Ridge House, becoming a secondary means of circulation through the space in addition to providing numerous areas for sitting and taking in the environment.
Ana Williamson Architect
This home in Menlo Park, near San Francisco, is just another illustration of concerning the layout to the landscape, this time by adopting it. A mature tree in the front of the home was not only maintained, but was made the attention of the U-shape plan.
Ana Williamson Architect
The stucco and wood front is fairly closed off, with some tiny openings. The back of the home, found here, is suitably more spacious.
Buttrick Wong Architects
This home west of Menlo Park takes a similar stance as the previous residence. In this case, the home is split in two, leading to an outdoor area marked by a massive tree.
Mark English Architects
This home combines the two approaches I have been talking: It arcs to embrace the garden (which comprises an instantly accessible pool) while opening itself up to the bigger perspectives outside.
Mark English Architects
Designed by the same architect, this house opens right to a small mountain which angles down and across the front of the home. The bridge entry heightens the impact of this sloping picture.
Mark English Architects, AIA
This snippet of a perspective, seen from inside the house, reveals how even the small aperture may make a statement by framing a perspective north of San Francisco.
Cathy Schwabe Architecture
Some designs incorporate the vernacular in both form and materials, as exemplified by those last two examples. The regional modernism of Northern California may embrace flat roofs and stucco walls, however this small studio is covered in wood siding and capped by a sloping roof.
CCS ARCHITECTURE
This large escape between Monterey and San Francisco uses recycled wood siding to create a stunning reinterpretation of classic buildings while still embracing the surrounding landscape. The latter is particularly evident in the huge sliding-wall opening adjacent to the kitchen.
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | NY Metro | Oregon | Seattle | San Francisco | L.A. | Coastal L.A.