​A class act on a steep site.

by The REJIGIT Blog


Craig Steely Architecture operates out of California and Hawaii which coincidentally allows the firm's principal to indulge in his passion for surfing.

Steely studied architecture at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. A scholarship for a year long study abroad in Florence, Italy had an influence on his early architectural career.

This 279 sq.m. (3000 sq.ft.) house is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Silicon Valley in California. The project was designed to blend with surrounding oak trees and to preserve as many trees as possible. The building was also designed to at once shield the residence from the sun but allow the interior to be filled with natural light.

The rooftop has been sown with native grasses and access is provided by a steel foot bridge.

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The main living area is cantilevered into the tree canopy while bedrooms, bathrooms, service areas and storage are located behind a long wall of cabinetry along the hillside elevation.

The kitchen/dining area features a 6.7m counter fashioned from white composite quartz.

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Photographs by Darren Bradley