Alda Capi Architecture
Orinda, California
This modern home in Orinda, California, is a renovation and addition project designed for a couple that loves cooking, plants, and pottery making. The design intends to create a sanctuary through simplicity, sophistication, charm, and connection to the outdoors.
The home's outer shell has dark metal roofing and siding, while the interior is fresh and serene through clean lines, simple shapes, a bright, warm, neutral palette, and the use of natural materials. Large-format sliding doors and windows flood the interior with light and views. Generous front and back outdoor patios surrounded by beautiful lush landscapes inspired by Mediterranean and arid gardens extend the visual thresholds well beyond the physical boundaries of the interior spaces. Symmetry is used to bring structure and harmony to the main public areas of the house. The 8’ high existing ceilings are replaced by vaulted ceilings, turning the roof geometry into a volumetric experience on the interior. The pitched roof geometry inspires the butterfly roof over the addition, a simple move that adds height to the master bedroom. The heart of the house is the kitchen, designed to cater to the couple's love for cooking. Small sitting niches and a flexible space add charm and character to the design. A dedicated pottery studio will be located at the back of the lot, offering a space for making, creativity, and escape. The garden reinforces the sense of serenity through repetition, yet differentiation in plant palette within the repetition creates exciting pockets of plant tapestry.