Lorcan O ’ Herlihy Architects

Sherman Residence

Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects

SHERMAN RESIDENCE

Loha Architects 

ARCHITECTS
LOHA Architects

PROJECT YEAR
2005

AREA
386.0 m2

LOCATION
Mill Valley, United States

CATEGORY
Houses

Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects
Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects

Text description provided by architect.

The house sits on a south facing hillside on a ridge overlooking the upper Tamalpais Valley and San Francisco Bay beyond.

Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects
Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects

The complexities found in the natural landscape and topography of Mill Valley, with its spiraling movement of folded planes and steep hillsides, established dynamic conditions critical to the direction of the overall architectural solution.

Complexity came in the tethering of the house to the hill. The primary level, which houses the main public spaces, is visually anchored to the site as it bends in plan along natural contour lines.

Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects
Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects

Simultaneously, the house cantilevers over the precipitous incline, its main floor supported by horizontal steel beams.

The beams attach to the rear house wall, reinforced for additional strength. In the rear, the house stands on steel columns with diagonal bracing embedded in concrete foundation beams.

Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects
Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects
Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects

A composition of floating rain screen wood skin and smooth troweled plaster are innovatively used on the exterior skin to further articulate the geologic conditions of the surrounding valley.

The upper volume folds in section and in plan creating a dynamic dialogue with the main level.

This level houses the glass walled master bedroom suite that has panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay.

Sherman Residence
© LOHA Architects

Sherman Residence
North Elevation


Sherman Residence
Sherman Residence

Lorcan O ’ Herlihy Architects
T +1 310 6574363
Lorcan O ’ Herlihy Architects
4106 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016, United States