San Mateo County

Firm: Ana Williamson Architects

Client: Not Provided
City: Menlo Park
Website: http://www.awarchitect.com/

Kang Residence

At first blush, the existing house on this site in Menlo Park, CA was not worth saving. It had been a rental for many years, was wildly overgrown and had fallen into disrepair. Fortunately, the new homeowners could see its embodied potential. Seduced by its old world charm and fortuitous location on the lovely wooded site, they decided to embark on an ambitious remodel.

The design team’s goals were to maintain the integrity of the house layout, improve the flow, connect interior spaces to the outdoors and overlay a modern aesthetic. The owners were looking to create a modern environment where they could seamlessly mesh the old and the new. They wanted clean lines and materials and still be able to throw in their antiques from India and Japan. As a tight knit family of five, with frequent visits from family in England the program required 4 bedrooms and a guest suite. Additions to the house totaling 1,130 SF provided enough space to satisfy their functional needs (3,990 SF total). The homeowners also opted to incorporate many green features and were awarded 98 points from Build-it-Green.

Completed in 2009, the house integrates the functional flow with natural features of the site.
The existing oak near the front entry is celebrated with a new entry patio and courtyard. Natural light has been abundantly introduced via large metal window openings and skylights, helping emphasize the spatial layering that informs the plan. The ability to open up the living spaces around the rear courtyard was a deliberate gesture to reinforce the connection to the outdoors as well as create a dialogue between the wings of the house.