The AIA SF home tour in Marin opened up five residential homes and the work of member architects to the public. The first was a Turnbull Griffin Haesloop project which looked wonderful but required a long wait for a shuttle bus to a steep hillside property so I decided to move on to the second which was Fischer Architecture remodel of a ranch house set in the hills of Kentfield.
This contemporary project was thought out in every detail from the lush landscaping right down to the stainless steel dog and cat dogs in the laundry room. The master bedroom's clean simple lines and great use of space overlooked the pool and the Asian inspired gazebo which held a large bed on a raised platform. The interior was furnished it seems by what the client may had previously and made the project look unfinished or that they ran out of money. I wish clients understood the importance of cohesive interior design is to the whole. The lack of the interior furnishings took the polish off of what could have been an outstanding project. Why is it that by the time a house is built we as interior designers have little or no budget to work with to complete it?
The third was a 1966 vintage home by architect Henrik Bull who was on site to talk with visitors. The long box car shape of the house with a roof line capped by a glass trough was set at into the woody hillside overlooking Terralinda and the civic center. The wood lined walls and simple nature of the layout and architecture was perfect in it's setting.
The fourth home was an amazing Japanese inspired project in Tiburon by Aidin Daring Design with a garden of grasses and rock, small pines and juniper opening up to the more natural landscaping around it. The stone and rock home was set on a bluff looking south and is at ease with it's surroundings. The beautiful proportion spaces inside with high ceilings and long hallway vistas leading to walled gardens and rock as sculpture were as beautiful as they were serene. Great use of stone and warm wood finishes through out set the background for Gary Huttons interior design. His sense for doing just enough furniture and art all perfectly thought out brought this project to perfection. Such a wonderful marriage of architecture, landscape and interior design.
The last home was Nick Noyes Architecture set on a point overlooking Tiburon and Belvedere. The simple contemporary structure in cream and blond wood had so much glass in the living room and kitchen area that you were almost lost in the view. I would have liked some of the view framed and more structure holding the building to it's site as it felt too unprotected from the elements. The interior was light and airy and pleasant. It may have been staged as it seemed under furnished.
All in all a great adventure for a Saturday afternoon and look forward to the next tour.