San Francisco-based Aidlin Darling Design has completed the striking LJ Residence in Atherton, California, a 6,466-square-foot home that seamlessly blends concrete and cedar elements while being specifically designed to accommodate multigenerational living arrangements.
The recently finished residence sits on a flat one-acre site that is surrounded by a grove of majestic heritage oak trees. The architectural firm approached this project with a unique philosophy that goes beyond traditional home construction methods.
"This residence doesn't simply rest on the land; it sculpts the ground plane itself, becoming a natural extension of the terra firma rather than an imposition on it," explained Joshua Aidlin, a founding partner of Aidlin Darling Design. "We conceived of this home as a bas relief, creating a rich network of dynamic relationships between inside and out, and allowing the home to support biophilic connections to the natural landscape."
The design concept originated from a small sculpture that "composed light, framed and encircled nature, responded to the context and carved into the landscape," according to Aidlin. The surrounding oak grove served as the primary inspiration for the architectural team's approach to the project.
"Our goal was to design a residence that created topography and intricacy in the vertical plane, while benefiting from reciprocity with the site's innate features," the studio stated.
The construction of the LJ Residence utilized regionally sourced materials, including cast-in-place concrete, cedar-clad enclosures, and steel frames, all installed by local craftspeople. "These materials both advance the tectonic language of the building form and provide a durable, low-maintenance enclosure," the architectural team noted.
One of the most distinctive features of the design is the concrete bas relief that seamlessly transitions from the building's facade into the double-height living room, creating an uninterrupted material flow from exterior to interior spaces. The cedar siding further enhances this continuity by wrapping from the upper level of the exterior into the internal ceilings and walls throughout the home.
"The effect is subtly porous, creating a sense that you're always outdoors," the studio explained.
The home's layout was carefully planned to support multigenerational living, incorporating communal gathering spaces, strategic sightlines that allow for supervision of young children, and private areas that provide different family members with personal space when needed. The heart of the home features a large, open living space that combines a lounge area, dining room, and kitchen, while a separate accessory dwelling unit offers flexibility for changing living situations over time.
Every space within the residence was designed to engage directly with the surrounding landscape, positioning the outdoors as a natural extension of the interior living areas. "The family believes that this home will inspire the children to become stewards of the land," the architectural team shared.
The home's primary facades are strategically oriented toward the north and south to optimize the thermal mass properties of the concrete construction, enhance natural ventilation through floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, and maximize views of the surrounding landscape. A carefully designed brise-soleil provides shade for the southern facade while filtering indirect light into the interior spaces. Additionally, skylights and light-wells bring natural sunlight deep into the floor plates and offer upward views of the heritage oak trees overhead.
Sustainability features prominently in the home's design and operation. The residence is primarily powered by a rooftop photovoltaic array and heated through an efficient radiant floor system. The HVAC system is strategically limited to sleeping areas only, significantly reducing overall energy consumption.
The project team included Aidlin Darling Design as the architect, Surfacedesign handling landscape architecture, and Studio Collins Weir managing the interior design. Photography of the completed residence was captured by Adam Rouse.
This California project represents part of Aidlin Darling Design's broader portfolio of innovative residential work, which recently includes a low-slung dogtrot-style house in Palm Desert and an airy home featuring cozy nooks in Silicon Valley. The LJ Residence demonstrates the firm's commitment to creating architecture that responds sensitively to its natural environment while meeting the complex needs of modern family living.
