“We worked with Christopher Haas to convert a dilapidated Spanish hacienda in the Berkeley Hills into a contemporary masterpiece that received national exposure. We purchased the property for $750k and sold it for well over $3M due to Chris’ design vision and disciplined project management. His design and ideas were instrumental in the success of the project.”
-Andy Read, Owner
Nestled atop the Berkeley Hills, this extensive renovation of an existing Mediterranean revival style home, focused on opening up previously small, compartmentalized rooms, into a home that provides more spacious and flowing spaces, while capturing the property’s sweeping views of the Bay and integrating natural light throughout.
Rooms open onto decks, outdoor lanais and into courtyards, continually bringing the interior spaces together with landscape, gardens, views and the sky.
Passive Design / Healthy / Eco-Friendly Features:
South West placed large windows, sliders and folding doors work in sync with passive solar orientation, gathering solar heat in winter/restricting solar heat gain in summers
Low-E high-performance thermal glazing
Recycled Denim Insulation
FSC Certified Wood radiant and insulated floors
Net-Zero roof with reflective white roof membrane
Naturally earth-cooled wine cellar
Thermal stack-effect created by open, 3-level, vented stairway, draws cool air from the lowest level
Operable windows oriented to optimize cross-breeze throughout spaces
No air-conditioning required for the home as a result of responsible design approaches.
Press:
Oakland Magazine, January 2016
San Francisco Chronicle, November 2015
Fire-Resilient Measures:
1” thick Portland Cement Lime Plaster non-combustible exterior
High concrete foundation walls, exposed as design element, inhibit fire combustion at base of house
Defensible landscaping at perimeter of home
Class A fire-rated roof membrane
Tempered glass, double pane insulated windows
Concrete and fire-rated 1” thick Ipe fire-barrier wall along property line.
Fire-resilient Ipe wood decking and fencing
