Diamond Heights

Presented with the challenge of renovating a 1965 Eichler in a respectful yet meaningful way, we decided to strike a balance between the inherent sense of proportion and balance of the original design and the insertion of contemporary improvements. Going against the current of overly aggressive renovations that apply current styles to historic structures, we chose to enhance instead of compete with the existing building. We accentuated the building’s post-and-beam structure, creating a layered composition with it, the wood veneer, and the concrete and tile elements throughout the space. New full-height sliding-glass panels increase the home’s energy efficiency while visually expanding the space toward the distant hillside view. We also created more open movement, relocating the kitchen so as to connect it more directly with the house’s living area and rebuilding the exterior decks so that they function as extensions of the interior spaces. The overall effect is of a careful balance between the old and the new.