Millbrae House
Details
Credits
From Red Dot Studio
Nestled amongst the hillsides in Millbrae, CA this home was built with both environment and sentiment in mind for this growing family of four. Behind its walls, this house reveals low-carbon insulation, radiant heat and cooling, a whole-house ventilation system, and a plethora of recycled materials. It’s run entirely on electricity. Built on the site of the husband’s childhood home, this brand-new, open-concept layout is also much more conducive to the family’s lifestyle.
Walking into the home, tall ceilings in the gathering spaces like the living room and upper hall create a sense of a grand space, while lower ceilings are used in the kitchen and family room to establish a cozier atmosphere. Looking out the sliding glass doors adjacent to the living space reveals a sun-drenched side deck that doubles as both an outdoor gathering space and a structure that blocks this side of the house from strong winds. This way, the family can keep these doors open for a soft breeze and natural light that floods the downstairs level.
One important aspect to our client was the ability to age in place—not only for themselves but for the grandparents and other family members. With this in mind, we added a ramp at the side yard entrance, curbless showers, and a bedroom on the lower level to keep everything accessible for those who need it.
Above all, our client needed practical spaces ideal for a family and aiding in day-to-day living. A garage entrance leading straight into a mudroom and laundry room is perfect for leaving behind dirt-covered sneakers, puddle-drenched coats, and any other messy belongings. Also found in the mud room/pantry is added storage for the kitchen, which keeps the main space organized. A TV room that doubles as the children’s playroom holds all their toys, a hidden closet under the stairs, a rotating bookshelf, and more are all little details that personalize this home.
Regenerative features include:
• daylighting
• low-carbon insulation
• radiant heat and cooling
• a whole-house ventilation system
• low carbon materials