Orinda Retreat
Uplift Retreat: A Mid-Century Inspired Sanctuary in the Suburban Wild
Uplift retreat, situated a block from a school, sees a lot of daily traffic for its suburban setting. Designed for a family of four, its single level layout with generous openings will allow its inhabitants to age in place. The entry volume is a low, cedar-lined, flat-roofed box providing a transition from street to sanctuary beyond. The second, sanctuary volume has two sloped shed roofs that meet in the center, as a tectonic uplift; its programming combines the most communal activities of a home, entertaining and cooking. Beyond is a large courtyard facilitating indoor-outdoor gatherings. A partial height concrete wall anchors the living area and provides a private hallway for the adjacent bedrooms. The wing that currently houses the dining and family rooms is ready to be adapted into a private suite for aging relatives. The black trim framed windows and doors throughout provide natural ventilation and compose views of the community beyond. At twilight, when the great room sliding doors are open, inhabitants and guests enjoy the symphony of frogs, crickets and other wildlife that live in the creek along the rear of the property while viewing the forested backdrop of greenery and redwood trees.
Materials and details of the interiors are influenced by mid-century design: the charcoal concrete structural slab radiant floors, the mostly walnut cabinetry, blue plastic laminate at the kitchen, light oak floors at the private wings and teak accents at the primary bathroom. The steel framing, factory-fabricated and site assembled, provides an efficient structural skeleton for cladding and insulation, and allows for the expansive glass filled common space. Solar panels along with battery backup allow this home to function off-grid for multiple days at a time. Through its many features, the house in particular addresses design excellence in well-being.