Decaying mid century modern home in Berkeley Hills, California

This decaying mid century modern home in Berkeley Hills, California home was remodeled and restored by YamaMar Design. Built in the 1960s of redwood siding and concrete block, the home was weathered and rotting, with a black, decayed pond in the courtyard. It was dark and dingy and falling apart. The homeowner, Derek Holley, lived in faraway place such as Berlin, Tuscany and Manila (where he made a fortune in the call center business) and wished for a place for his family to call home. The owners split their residency between an apartment in Siena, Italy and the US and wanted their home to reflect true California living. Despite the obvious cosmetic challenges, the 2,700 square foot home was structurally sound. It had a wonderful open floor plan and the interior was filled with old-growth redwood shelving and paneling that could be repurposed in the remodel. The home boasted uninterrupted views of the Bay Area and Golden Gate Bridge from two levels, the main living level and the bedroom level below.

Living lightly on the land was very important to the Holley family, who are both active outdoor types that have few possessions and low carbon footprints, they wished for simplicity. They wished to reuse as much of the house as possible, a home that reflected sustainability and style. A mix of modern minimalism and earthy and warm. The renovation includes a voluntary seismic upgrade, envelope and energy efficiency upgrades, and enhanced daylight and panoramic views. A new landscaped entry courtyard creates a wind sheltered entertaining space and garden. Interior plan changes include a new en-suite master bath, and expanded stairwell as well as a home gym and bicycle storage for Derek who is an avid bicyclist. NanaWall doors spanning the width of the house allow seamless flow from inside to out, and railings are designed to be visually quite. A restored redwood wall anchors the design and creates a new heart for the lightened interior.