- Architecture & development
Swimming pools, a small vineyard and a large art collection characterise this sprawling residence in Northern California, designed by American design firm Olson Kundig. These low-lying pavilions form the sprawling California Meadow House.
Founded in 1967, Olson Kundig is known for creating distinctive, modern homes in natural settings. They offer a full range of services, including custom furniture design, material selection and sourcing options. This design studio offers in-house design services that focus on integrating nature with the built environment. 
The project called California Meadow House is located in Woodside, an prosperous town near Silicon Valley. The house was designed by the founder, Jim Olson ,of the Seattle firm Olson Kundig. The client loves entertainment and social connection, so this was the focus of the project. The curved driveway leads you past old olive trees, a small vineyard and a beautiful garden to the residence. The house stands on 1.4 hectares of land and is divided in two: one part suggests a human influence on the landscape and the other part has a wilder character. The central living area forms a whole with views in four directions: over the swimming pools, open views of the gardens and nearby Santa Cruz mountains. The property includes three outbuildings and extensive outdoor living space that blends the house into its green surroundings. On the "wilder" side of the property are the private areas, including the master suite, the office and three children's bedrooms. Here you will again find a smooth transition between inside and outside thanks to the receding window walls that maximise outdoor living.
A flowing transition between inside and outside was the aim.
Inside, Olson designed a host of home decor pieces, including the dining and living room furniture - outside lounge furniture - the bed, bedside tables in the master bedroom and various lighting fixtures. Olson Kundig chose materials of steel, nickel, teak and leather for the various pieces. In addition, the design firm helped curate the owners' international contemporary art collection to complement the architectural expression. This project features an earthy colour palette, inspired by the Californian wooded surroundings and the views that extend across the gardens. 
California Meadow House is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes. The Olson Kundig team applied geometric and hydronic systems for heating and cooling, along with solar panels covering more than half of the roof area. The result of the project is a home that is in harmony with nature, not only visually and philosophically, but also from a practical standpoint. 
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Photography by Matthew Millman