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Belvedere Avenue

Landscape Architecture, Residential
Artful circulation and restrained design vocabulary emphasize dramatic topography for this complex Bay Area residential site

Located on Belvedere Island, CA, and overlooking Richardson Bay with views towards Sausalito, this residence sits on a hillside with 146’ of steep grade change. Capitalizing on dramatic site topography and iconic views towards the Golden Gate Bridge and utilizing an intentionally crafted minimalist design vocabulary, the design team created an iconic landscape that is functional and inspirational.

Location
Belvedere, CA
Timeline
Completed 2022
Collaborators
Charles R. Stinson Architecture
Size
<5 acres

The scope of the project included removal of the existing house and select trees, an intense approval process, careful siting of the new house, and a site design addressing a challenging site and complex environmental considerations.

The owner’s vision was to connect to the site in a beautiful and unique way, the design weaves together moments of expansive bay views with spaces of poetic respite. Courtyards flank the home’s entry, dissolving the separation of “inside” and “outside”. Stone pavers, wood salvaged from the site, and refined plantings celebrate the value of understated design gestures.

 

 

Sculptural concrete walls frame the entry drive and a dramatic linear pedestrian staircase contrasts with the textural foliage of water-conscious native and adapted plants. The house entry’s linear staircase continues, offering access to the hillside meadow and hillside grove. The meadow and grove are grounded with timber stairs, zigzagging gravel paths, and a selection of California-native plants.