CITATION OF MERIT
DISTINGUISHED BUILDING
Point Richmond, California
| Architect: | Gerald Horn |
| Associate Architect: | Holabird & Root LLP |
| Client/Owner: | Caryl Horn |
| Consultants: | Holabird & Root LLP (structural) |
| Photographer: | Holabird & Root LLP, Gerald Horn, Robert Piotrowski |
Built directly over the water, this three-story, 2600-square-foot residence provides immediate access to a boat slip and a protected harbor of San Francisco Bay. The house is designed as the first of a two-unit complex for a couple who desire a future rental unit as well as their own residence. The building exterior features sunscreens, teak windows and stained redwood siding. The inside was carefully configured to accommodate extended family visits while maintaining the owner's privacy.
The most unique aspect of the house is its lightweight, easy construction. Pilings in the water bear 36-foot steel trusses and form a grid of nine 12' by 12' bays. Once the pipe columns were set and braced with the assistance of professional steel erectors, all remaining structural steel was installed by the owner's husband, her son and son-in-law. This "construction crew" reinforces the tradition of family gathering and makes the process of building this unusual residence an intimate part of the family's history.
"The house is a stunning image. It actually fits in, even though it is a product of a different time and sensibility than those surrounding it." -Jury Comment
