Elements House
Palo Alto, California
On a long, narrow lot bounded by houses, this home is designed for living in close connection with the landscape. The owners requested a direct connection to a garden and the desire for water to be present as part of the daily experience — with the intent to make an inside of the outside.
The original site was occupied by two structures, one in from which was removed and one at the back of the lot, which was renovated. The primary living spaces are oriented towards the garden between these two structures.
Despite the narrowness of the lot, the side yards are actively incorporated into the house as outdoor rooms. Water is present in multiple forms ‐ as a surface, as sound, as an object, as movement, and as light. The pool is experienced in section through glazing that begins at the lower level and rises through the house. The result is a site organized together with the house, with no leftover or unused spaces.
Structural Engineer: Endress/Ware
Photography: Matthew Millman
Published: Dwell October 2014
Featured in Dwell online here.
