This project called for the design of two houses on adjacent parcels in the Oakland hills. The irregularly shaped lots, steep topography and restrictive zoning regulations inspired an unusual design process. Beginning with a computer model of the site topography and zoning envelope, we “arrived” at building form through a generative process within the computer, like solving a puzzle in reverse. Each house was born directly from its own site, and then allowed to “collaborate” with its neighbor through subtle shifts, access to views and shared spaces between.

Though unique spatially and experientially, the houses share a similar hand formally and materially; a symbiotic relationship that can be traced to their parallel processes.

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