Apartments Design Ideas

The Garay Residence on the shores of San Francisco Bay from Swatt Miers Architects

October 29, 2015

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The Garay Residence was designed by the Swatt Miers Architects in Belvedere Tiburon, California, USA. The house is located on the mountain with breathtaking views of The Bay, Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Garay Residence on the shores of San Francisco Bay from Swatt Miers Architects 7

The house is surrounded by ancient olive trees and blue agave looking effectively and contritely with the walls of Jerusalem stone. These walls alternate with glass wall openings. The central hinged door was made black oak on an individual project and leads to the spacious living room that begins from the foyer with a low ceiling.

The Garay Residence on the shores of San Francisco Bay from Swatt Miers Architects 10 © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects

The living room is the central part of the house combining the dining room and kitchen. When the doors are fully extended on three sides, the room turns into a pavilion filled with sunlight through the skylight windows and light hatches in the roof. There are 2 child rooms, 2 guest rooms, the bathroom and governess in the west wing of the house. In the east one there’s the musters’ room and the home office / lounge. The courtyard and garden area are decorated with drought-resistant plants.

The Garay Residence on the shores of San Francisco Bay from Swatt Miers Architects 5 © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects

The swimming pool is arranged with the travertine terrace on the same level. You can get to the lower level with the transparent glass wine cellar by the stairs made of glass, stone and walnut. There is also the media room and small office (both rooms have access to the covered terrace), the gym with the changing rooms and summer shower.

The Garay Residence on the shores of San Francisco Bay from Swatt Miers Architects 3 © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects

The designers have used a lot of different materials and decorations to connect invisibly the interior and exterior turning the villa into an element of the landscape. For example, there is cantilever roof overhangs, frameless glazing, the fully retractable doors into the walls, the floor made of white limestone, the panels of anodized aluminum, elegant decor in shades of ivory, walnut furniture.

The Garay Residence on the shores of San Francisco Bay from Swatt Miers Architects 1 © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects The Garay Residence on the shores of San Francisco Bay from Swatt Miers Architects 9 © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects The Garay Residence on the shores of San Francisco Bay from Swatt Miers Architects 15 © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects © Russell Abraham & Swatt Miers Architects