O’Brien Homes
Single-Family Detached | Site Planning
This development, located near mass-transit and the BART, transforms an old rock quarry into an exquisite community featuring 44 single-family homes while maintaining a maximum amount of open space. Situated in a highly desirable city where the homes are typically grandiose, these unique one-, one-and-a-half and two-story homes address the needs of the move-down market while providing high-end finishes that maintain a luxury feel. Every home is built with high-quality, honest materials such as metal roofs, windows and front doors; cedar siding and shingles; and PV solar panels. The original site-plan displayed a conventional front-loaded design; when challenged to create something more distinctive, KTGY delivered unique home groupings around green court spaces, maintained with recycled water, that feature multi-functional gathering zones with amenities like fire pits, seat walls, and moveable furniture. Continuing the outdoor experience, each home opens to a private courtyard with green space and decorative paving. Strategically laying out these varied height homes across the site reduces sight-lines from various vantage points and allows the homes to blend in with the natural surroundings. The community provides the neighborhood with a much-needed park and recreational field and delivers residents an abundance of outdoor space and walking trails.