Nestled along a picturesque ridge overlooking the expansive San Francisco Bay, the Lagoon View Residence, a notable project by Swatt + Partners, has been meticulously reimagined to forge an intimate connection with its breathtaking surroundings. This architectural transformation on a challenging Tiburon hillside, accessible via winding roads, offers panoramic vistas of the city skyline, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, and the vast Pacific Ocean. The comprehensive renovation and expansion of an existing 4,753-square-foot dwelling saw Swatt + Partners craft a contemporary intervention that draws its essence directly from its dramatic setting.
The original structure, a series of disjointed renovations, suffered from visual and spatial fragmentation. Swatt + Partners addressed this by creating a unified and cohesive design, ensuring a consistent spatial experience across all levels. A core tenet of the redesign was to maximize natural light and views, establishing an expanded relationship with the exterior landscape. This approach facilitated unobstructed sightlines throughout the interior, making the stunning outdoor environment an integral part of the home's aesthetic. The strategic organization of spaces prioritizes intuitive movement and orientation, allowing residents to effortlessly navigate the home while remaining connected to the captivating scenery. Complementing this, a carefully selected palette of materials and robust structural elements firmly anchor the residence to its unique hillside topography, blending seamlessly with the natural contours of the land.
Seamless Integration of Interior and Exterior Spaces
The Lagoon View Residence masterfully balances moments of expansive openness with a comforting sense of enclosure, shaping a dynamic and engaging experience for its occupants. On the northern, entry-facing side, the design employs solid stone volumes and strong vertical structural elements, creating a formidable yet welcoming presence that conveys a sense of stability and privacy. In stark contrast, the southern and western facades embrace transparency, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls that dissolve the boundaries between indoors and out. A dramatic cantilevered roof and extended terraces further amplify this connection, projecting living spaces outward and establishing a continuous flow between the interior rooms and exterior decks. These architectural gestures not only offer shade from the sun but also meticulously frame specific viewpoints, ensuring that the magnificent bay vistas are always a central focus.
Inside, local firm Leverone Design has curated interior spaces that reflect a sophisticated blend of custom craftsmanship and thoughtfully selected ready-made furnishings. This collection includes pieces from renowned designers such as Coup d’État, Jun Aizaki, and Holly Hunt, alongside outdoor furniture from Zachary A. Design, RH, and Niche, strategically placed to complement the expansive bay-facing views. The interior design adopts a restrained aesthetic, providing a serene backdrop that allows the clients' impressive art collection to take center stage. This curated collection boasts works by artistic luminaries like Pablo Picasso, Ansel Adams, Salvador Dalí, Alberto Giacometti, Lin Fengmian, Wu Guanzhong, and Henry Moore. The landscape design, conceived by Berkeley-based Thuilot Associates, harmoniously integrates with the property's natural contours. Pathways gently descend the hillside, leading through a series of planted terraces and outdoor rooms that echo the slope from street level to the property's lower boundary. The exterior envelope maintains material consistency, utilizing integrally colored cement plaster, stained tongue-and-groove cedar siding, Windsor limestone, and clear anodized aluminum windows, expertly executed by Stroub Construction. This cohesive material palette reinforces the home's spatial clarity and its profound connection to the surrounding terrain.