Villa di Famiglia Vita

This extensive renovation of a 1980s Tudor-style residence
made use of the original structure’s good “bones,” unique
form, and excellent site orientation while shaping it to suit a
modernist design sensibility and the family’s needs. A four-
foot extension to existing kitchen and porch, a restructured
guest bedroom roofline and the reintroduction of a porte-
cochere element transformed the look and function of the
home (renamed Villa di Famiglia Vita because the couple
began their marriage with a Honeymoon in Italy).
Conversion of unfinished attic to a children’s floor with dual
bunkrooms, a playroom and open media room created a
beloved space appropriately scaled to young users.

A low-maintenance material palette of Cor-ten steel, Cem-
Clad panels, mild steel, sod and cedar proceeding from
exterior to interior spaces provides continuity. Enlarging
existing windows and adding new window openings further
expands the interior to its natural surroundings and allows
natural light to freely permeate the house. Sod roofs added
where possible also link outdoor environment with interior
spaces while reducing temperature fluctuations for energy
efficiency.

The interior’s most prominent element, a glass and steel
staircase, winds through all three levels in an irregular
zigzag configuration accentuated by its transparent quality.
Douglas fir ceiling panels, bamboo floors, built-ins,
architect-designed furniture and ponderosa pine-clad
windows offer visual warmth and a sense of intimacy in
priority interior spaces. Ultimately, the 85-percent
renovation of the traditional original structure pairs
architectural vision with the needs of a dynamic family for a
uniquely modern reimagining of “home.”