The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

Oversized sliding glass doors pocket completely away to dissolve the physical boundaries between interior and exterior, creating an uninterrupted flow from the rear courtyard through the main living space to the pool area, all against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. (Photography: Miranda Brackett)

Open-plan living room of a new construction home in the Berkeley Hills, CA. Double-height floor-to-ceiling steel-framed picture windows frame an unobstructed mature forest canopy, dissolving the boundary between interior and landscape. Birch plywood ceiling panel with a sculptural black steel hexagonal pendant light fixture anchors the double-height volume. Walnut hardwood floors, a custom geometric laser-cut wood privacy panel echoing the exterior lattice screen, and a glass stair railing with black steel balustrade complete the material palette. Furnished with a linen sectional sofa, oak lounge chairs, marble-top side tables, and ceramic vases. Architecture by CB Architecture + Design in collaboration with Timbre Architecture.

A direct visual relationship with the city is embraced in the project by orienting the volumes parallel to San Francisco’s skyline, modifying the building facade to remove a faux mansard, and increasing aperture sizes. Views framed on the main level by the wood figure transform into an open view on the penthouse as a large aperture opens completely to dissolve the relationship between interior and exterior.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

When closed, the system delivers exceptional insulation and noise reduction—perfect for quiet evenings or cool Bay Area mornings. When open, the home feels weightless, defined by light, texture, and movement. It’s an architectural study in how design can dissolve boundaries and invite life’s moments to expand outward.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

A full glass door in the primary bedroom opens directly to nature, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out for a seamless connection to the surrounding landscape.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The space opens wide with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out: beyond lies a terraced backyard with native succulents, olive trees, and a fire pit (a must-have for Californian evenings). Large format terracotta tiles in warm, earthy neutrals anchor the floor, echoing the state’s Spanish colonial roots, while exposed oak beams on the ceiling add rustic texture.

The rear elevation opens fully to the garden, with a white louvered pergola stretching the length of the house to shelter lounge, grill, and dining zones. Folding glass doors dissolve the threshold between interior and terrace. In the foreground, a meadow of echinacea and lavender adds a painterly layer of color.