Every custom home has a story. Luminosa, in Palo Alto, Calif., is no exception. Built on the site of the client’s boyhood home, the design borrows from that past while establishing a modern future for the client and his family, while also applying lessons in creative ways to manage restrictive municipal zoning requirements and daylight access rules, with sometimes surprising results.
The heart of the 5,834-square-foot, three-level home is a central atrium—a throwback to smaller houses desperate for natural light. “I think this home makes the case that using an atrium to provide a source of light and connection to the outdoors is incredibly important,” says architect Donald Ruthroff, AIA, principal at Dahlin Architecture | Planning | Interiors, in Pleasanton, Calif. “I would argue that it brings a sort of magic to Luminosa.”
PROJECT SPECS: LUMINOSA
Historically criticized by some as wasted space for unimportant uses, according to Ruthroff, the case for an atrium in this design was made more compelling by Luminosa’s generous square footage. And any doubts about the atrium’s usefulness dissipate when you consider its multiple uses as a yoga studio, a second dining area for large parties, and a quiet retreat with a connection to nature, as well as its access to the entry hall, a full bath, and a private guest suite (see floor plan, below). “It reminded and challenged me to bring the most light inside any home within a client’s budget,” Ruthroff says.
The atrium also enabled the home to meet strict land-use regulations without sacrificing other space. “The fact that we could have a space enclosed on four sides and yet not count it in the lot coverage made it a huge win for us,” he says.
Contemporary Style With Plenty of Opportunities for Outdoor Living
The rest of the home follows suit, with a rich combination of glass and wood—inside and out—that lengthens sight lines, shares light, and provides visual warmth to a decidedly contemporary style.
“By using various woods and colors, you get a contemporary home that feels welcoming and comfortable,” Ruthroff says. “The spaces are grand without being large, and there is a sense of space and expansiveness because of how the home is connected to the outside.”
