A Bay Area Home Merges Architecture, Art, and Outdoor Living

  October 16, 2024
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The Bay Area Home, designed by the Olson Kundig architecture firm with interiors by Nicole Hollis of NICOLEHOLLIS, stands as an elevated display of modern architecture and curated interiors, carefully crafted to promote the family’s active and art-filled life. Situated in an established San Francisco Bay Area neighborhood, the house is a relaxing haven amid city life, blending indoor and outdoor living with the help of mature oak trees, reflective water features, and expansive views of curated gardens.

Architect Tom Kundig’s design is a study in contrasts, balancing formal and casual spaces within a single structure. The home, which spans multiple zones, includes an area for entertaining guests and a more intimate section dedicated to family life. These distinct zones not only give the house a sense of openness but also foster a feeling of closeness and warmth. As Kundig explains, “This project organizes a pretty big home around two very different functions: formal spaces for hosting and entertaining, and much more casual family spaces.” This dual-purpose design is bolstered by the home’s close connection to nature, achieved through expansive glass walls and kinetic elements that blur the lines between the indoors and outdoors.

Modern garden path with stone steps over a reflecting pool, flanked by a concrete wall and a dark building. Tall trees and grasses provide natural contrast against the structures.

The entrance of the home begins with a dramatic statement: a black steel bridge suspended over a lightwell, leading to a bronze pivoting front door that opens onto an art-filled entryway. Large walls throughout the house showcase the family’s impressive art collection, featuring works from artists such as Oscar Murillo and Alma Allen, while oversized glass windows offer uninterrupted views of the lush surrounding landscape.

Modern house with a cantilevered upper floor featuring large glass windows, a pool in the foreground, and surrounded by trees.

An Olympic-sized swimming pool lays along the axis of the hovering primary suite, an extension of the covered outdoor living space. On the opposite side of the pool is a cabana, which features a sauna, cold plunge, and outdoor gym.

Modern outdoor patio with a wooden ceiling, comfortable seating, tables, and decorative lamps, overlooking a swimming pool and surrounded by greenery.

Modern outdoor kitchen with a long dining table set for eight, two large pendant lights, sleek countertops, and a barbecue grill, surrounded by a lush green forest.

Modern outdoor patio with black framed glass walls, wooden ceiling, gray sofas, and chairs. Surrounded by grass and trees, the space extends from a contemporary building.

Modern black and gray house with a sleek bridge-like entrance and surrounded by greenery.

Modern living room with large windows, comfortable seating, a central coffee table, and a fireplace. The room has a natural view and a wooden ceiling.

Modern dining room with a large glass wall, wooden ceiling, and a table set with chairs. Artistic lighting fixture hangs above the table.

Inside, the formal wing is punctuated by reflecting pools and framed with black steel columns. A pair of 13-foot pivoting glass doors anchor the space, allowing light to flow freely. Custom elements like a botanical bronze screen by artist David Wiseman add further layers of texture and artistry. As Nicole Hollis describes, “A screen by David Wiseman was a custom commission with the artist, and one of the most distinctive choices we made.”

A modern dining room with a large table, colorful chairs, intricate wooden partition, and glass walls overlooking a garden.

Modern living room with a dark shelving unit displaying blue vases and books. A gray sofa is set in front with two metallic side tables. A decorative screen is to the left. Large windows above.

Modern kitchen with a large marble island, barstools, dark cabinetry, white marble backsplash, and a large abstract painting on the wall.

In contrast to the formal living areas, the family zones are designed to feel casual yet luxurious. The kitchen, centered around a 28-foot-long Titiano marble island, opens onto a terrace, extending into the outdoors with dedicated spaces for cooking and dining under the shelter of the primary suite’s cantilevered volume. The outdoor kitchen, pool, and sports facilities encourage an active lifestyle, a design decision Kundig highlights: “The outdoor kitchen literally extends the energy from the main kitchen inside out into the landscape. The pool creates a link between the low-key activity of the house and the more intense recreational activity of the sauna, outdoor gym, and sport court beyond.”

Modern kitchen with marble countertops, wooden cabinets, black fixtures, and a large window. There are shelves with decorative items and a bowl of lemons on the counter.

Modern kitchen with a large marble island, under-counter sink, wooden cabinets, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of lush greenery outside.

A dining table with eight wooden chairs and a vase of green leaves. A modern chandelier hangs above. The room features wood panels and large windows showing greenery outside.

A modern black bathroom with an abstract sink, wall-mounted faucet, square mirror, and towel on a rack. Two rock-like light fixtures are on either side of the mirror.

A downstairs powder room houses a sculptural black marble sink surrounded by black wood walls embedded with veins of bronze inlay.

Modern living room with large windows, gray sofas, a curved chair, and a coffee table with flowers. Bookshelves line the wall, and greenery is visible outside.

A modern living room with a green sofa, armchair, and a round coffee table. Two colorful portraits hang on the wall above the sofa. A window on the left provides natural light.

The home’s upper level is equally considered, featuring a serene primary suite that includes a marble bathtub, placed to create a peaceful connection with the surrounding tree canopy. A separate children’s wing adds functionality, providing privacy and play spaces, while at the basement level, a gym and recreation room open into the landscaped lightwell, ensuring natural light flows through even the most secluded parts of the home.

Modern bedroom with a large bed, a framed wall picture, and a sitting area by glass windows overlooking a green outdoor scene.

Modern bathroom with a freestanding tub and a geometric wooden shelf divider. Large windows provide a view of greenery outside. Light wood flooring and ceiling complement the minimalist design.

Modern bathroom with a stone bathtub, wooden flooring, and a geometric wall design. Two stacked wooden stools and patterned towels are visible.

A modern bathroom features a large shower with gray stone walls, a black stool, and wooden accents. The room includes a wooden door and shelves.

A modern home office with wooden walls and furniture, a desk with a lamp and chair, and large windows revealing a view of greenery outside.

The interiors, masterminded by Nicole Hollis, create a serene and inviting atmosphere, contrasting soft furnishings with the bold architectural lines of the house. “Working with the architectural palette, we selected materials and finishes to contrast against the lush exterior landscape, creating a calming environment,” Hollis explains. The careful interplay between the rigorous architecture and playful interior details softens the space, making it both livable and refined.

A modern bedroom with a blue gradient wall, bed with a multicolored quilt, a large window, red numbered drawers, and art on the floor. A black ceiling light fixture hangs overhead.

Modern bedroom with a blue bed, wavy headboard, two bedside tables with lamps, a neon sign on the wall, large window, and views of trees outside.

A modern bedroom with a blue-themed interior features a bed, cushioned chair, and floor lamp by large windows overlooking greenery.

A modern bedroom with a large window, bunk bed, patterned wallpaper, cushioned chair with ottoman, pink side table, and a round chandelier.

Minimalist bathroom with a cylindrical white bathtub filled with water, against dark gray walls and a wooden ceiling. A simple black faucet is mounted above the tub.

Modern bathroom with green tiled walls, a white bathtub, and a wooden stool next to a large window showing trees outside.

Outdoor sports court with tennis and basketball setups, surrounded by trees. There are seating areas with umbrellas nearby.

Modern outdoor home gym with exercise bike, treadmill, weights, and a punching bag on black flooring. Surrounded by greenery, the space has a large TV and a wooden ceiling.

For more information on Olson Kundig, visit olsonkundig.com, and for more information on NICOLEHOLLIS, visit nicolehollis.com.

Photography by Douglas Friedman. 

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.





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