Rooms are organised around gardens and courtyards in this northern California dwelling, which Feldman Architecture has lifted above the ground in order to protect tree roots.

Located within walking distance of downtown Palo Alto, The Sanctuary house was designed for recent empty-nesters who are eyeing retirement.
When searching for a property on which to build their new home, the couple came upon a deep lot with ample vegetation, hidden behind an ageing fence.

"The couple fell in love with the overgrown garden and its obvious potential," said San Francisco-based Feldman Architecture in a project description.
"This sense of discovery served as the original inspiration for the design of the house."

The owners tasked the studio with creating a home that fit with the neighbourhood and made the most of the lush landscape. In response, the team conceived a series of quiet, rectilinear volumes that are interspersed with gardens and courtyards.

"Each interior space is paired with its own landscape moment, allowing the architecture and landscape to flow into each other," the architects said.
Set back from the street, the two-storey home sits behind a heritage oak tree with a large canopy that stretches over the front yard. The home is lifted slightly above the landscape via concrete piers, ensuring the protection of tree roots.

"The floor plate projects beyond the building envelope and dissolves into balconies to blur the sense of indoor/out...