Family Residence Surrounded by Scenic Landscapes in California

The Mill Valley Hillside residence was designed by McGlashan Architecture and is located in Marin County, California, north of San Francisco. The home was especially built in order to accommodate three generations, in two separate dwellings, under one green roof. According to the architects, the project “brings the grandparents closer to their children and grandchildren, yet carves out spaces tailored to each generation. Upstairs is formal, quiet and dramatic. Downstairs is warm and casual, from cozy window seats to a generous play areas for the boys, their pet rat, and their drum set. As family arrangements evolve, so can the house. The middle level can be shared variously between the two dwellings. Planning conditions allowed for a single new home with a small 2nd unit on the large hillside parcel. In order for the 2nd unit to expand beyond the allowed 500sf and share space with the upper unit, the architect conceived an attached 3-level structure. Each level is topped with a semi-intensive green roof, planted with native and drought tolerant species. Super-insulated, passively conditioned, with many energy- and water-efficiency features, the home is an ecological exemplar.” [Photography by: David Fenton, Scott McGlashan, CJ Chapman]