ROSS RESIDENCE

ROSS, CA

THE ARCHITECT OF THIS TURN OF THE CENTURY HOUSE WAS WILLIS POLK, WHOSE WORK IS WIDELY KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA. SINCE THE CLIENT NEEDED AN ADDITION OF NEW SPACE, THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WOULD BE RETAINED AS PART OF THE TOTAL DESIGN. THE ADDITION WAS REQUIRED TO BLEND IN WITH THE EXISTING ARCHITECTURE. 

VIEW FROM REAR YARD

THE SETTING FOR THIS HOUSE IS A FIVE ACRE HILLSIDE SITE THAT IS SURROUNDED BY TREES. THE ORIGINAL HOUSE CONTAINED 4700 S.F. DISTRIBUTED OVER TWO FLOORS. MOST OF THE SIX BEDROOMS WERE SMALL AND OUTDATED IN DESIGN AND FUNCTION. 

VIEW OVERLOOKING POOL

THE ADDITION WAS ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THE RESIDENCE IN THE FORM OF A THREE STORY 675 SF TOWER. THE TOWER CONTAINS THE FAMILY EATING AREA AT THE FIRST LEVEL AND BEDROOMS ON THE SECOND AND THIRD LEVELS. THE THIRD FLOOR BEDROOM HAS A SMALL READING BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE RECREATION AREA. 

POOL VIEW
CABANA VIEW

SINCE THERE WAS NO LEVEL AREAS FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, THE REAR YARD HAD BEEN UNUSED. TO CHANGE THIS, A SERIES OF RECREATIONAL STRUCTURES WERE DESIGNED AND MACHED THE HILLSIDE AT VARIOUS LEVELS ABOVE THE RESIDENCE. STARTING AT THE TOP OF THE SLOPE, A TENNIS COURT WAS CUT INTO THE HILLSIDE WITH A CONCRETE RETAINING WALL POURED WITH INTEGRAL COLOR TO MATCH THE HILLISE. 

SOAKING POOL