Traveler’s Home

Perched at the top of a prominent hill in Pleasanton, California, this new residence was designed as a home base for a client whose lifestyle takes them around the world. Rather than simply occupying its hillside setting, the home is oriented to capture and celebrate it—framing expansive views of Pleasanton Ridge and the valley beyond from nearly every major living space.

The design creates a sense of calm and retreat, offering a place to return to, recharge, and reconnect with the landscape after time spent away. Carefully positioned openings, expansive glazing, and strong architectural forms direct attention outward, making the surrounding hills and changing California light an integral part of the experience of the home.

At the center of the outdoor living spaces, an infinity-edge pool extends the architecture toward the horizon, visually connecting the home to the landscape below. Board-formed concrete walls establish a sense of permanence and shelter, while also framing carefully composed views of the ridge and valley. The material palette of natural stone, concrete, warm wood, and weathered Corten steel grounds the residence in its hillside setting, balancing a contemporary aesthetic with textures and tones drawn from the surrounding landscape.

The result is a residence designed not only for living, but for returning to—a private retreat that provides a sense of permanence, tranquility, and connection to place, no matter how far the journey takes its occupants.