Prairie Style House — Upper Rockridge District, Oakland Hills 

The moderately steep down-slope lot in the Oakland Fire Area offered sweeping views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate, and the North Bay. The clients desired distinctive architectural lines that did not look like a tract house, nor would be overly traditional or modern.

Architecture inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style was chosen because its clean horizontal lines and axial plan geometry were well suited to the client’s site, program, and architectural taste. The 3,350 SF design orients high use areas such as the great room, kitchen/nook, and master suite towards south facing garden terraces and west facing views. Living areas are situated on the upper floor. The master suite and bedrooms are on the lower floor nestled with gardens and on-grade terraces. Unlike many homes on down-slope lots, where highly visible rear walls are large and bulky with little architectural expression, the design carefully offsets taller and lower forms to compose a pleasing and grounded rear elevation. Detailing and materials from the grouping of multi-panel casement windows to the wide stained cedar eaves contribute to the Prairie Style aesthetic.