Greene & Greene Modern

On a parcel in the Santa Lucia Preserve, a young couple envisioned a full-time residence crafted for raising a family, entertaining, working from home, and prioritizing thoughtful connections with the surrounding hills and meadows. The couple came to us with an appreciation for both our contemporary design sensibilities, as well as the early 20th-century architecture studio Greene & Greene, drawing inspiration from their California craftsman style and intricately detailed homes that feel warm and lived in. After our team, Commune Design, Ground Studio, and the clients toured the iconic Gamble House among other Greene & Greene dwellings in Pasadena, we set out to design a love letter to the highly crafted, thoughtfully articulated traditional homes of this era through a modern and clarified lens.

After conducting a series of siting exercises, the team iterated towards a design that radiates multiple pavilions outwards along the crown of an existing knoll and maintains thoughtful view corridors between each structure. The main house connects two pavilions with a glassy entry, allowing a preliminary glimpse of distant mountain views. The northern pavilion hosts public spaces – the entry foyer flows naturally into a dining room, open-plan living room, and kitchen. In the southern pavilion, primary and secondary suites offer a private retreat. Both structures’ western facades float covered porches gently off the sloping hillside, taking advantage of sweeping views in each setting and offering an updated interpretation of the traditional craftsman vernacular. A detached pool house introduces additional accommodations for guests, opening onto a sun-soaked pool deck and outdoor dining patio.