Cutting edge architecture has come to Modesto, California. The owners of this custom residence worked closely with architectural designer, Conrad Sanchez of Blue Design Studios, lighting designer, Randall Whitehead and interior designer, Nicki West to create a home around their extensive collection of established and emerging contemporary artists. The team also includes custom home builder, Mark Sweet of Mark Sweet Construction and electrical contractor, Bruce Trussler of Kirkes Electric whose combined talents were able to create outstanding results from inventive concepts. The end product is a striking and cohesive collaboration that shows how a team of design/build professionals can craft something that flows seamlessly between all the specialties involved on behalf of a forward-thinking couple who were pmodesto final-extart of the decision- making process from day one.

A glass bridge takes people from the garage to the main house. This space is used as a gallery and features an LED installation of ever changing light.

Conrad Sanchez’s bold, progressive architectural style blends seamlessly into the landscape for a look that is both subtle and sculptural. His use of sustainable materials shows that a home can be environmentally sensitive, while being visually welcoming and architecturally timeless, as well. Builder, Mark Sweet’s drawings and specifications were then translated into a solid, livable space situated on a challenging, steeply sloped lot

Conrad Sanchez’s bold, progressive architectural style blends seamlessly into the landscape for a look that is both subtle and sculptural. His use of sustainable materials shows that a home can be environmentally sensitive, while being visually welcoming and architecturally timeless, as well. Builder, Mark Sweet’s drawings and specifications were then translated into a solid, livable space situated on a challenging, steeply sloped lot

Lighting specialist, Randall Whitehead teamed up with the team and owners to design a lighting system that was both dramatic when desired and functional for day-to-day living. Taking advantage of the latest products, this is the first house in the country to use Lucifer Lighting’s square recessed adjustable low voltage fixture. The shape really plays off the cubist feel of the architecture. These fixtures were specified with an electronic transformer to eliminate any of the characteristic hum that might be magnified from the hard surfaces incorporated into the project if a standard magnetic transformer was used. The Lucifer housings are also airtight and rated for insulated ceilings to meet California’s strict energy codes.

The first impression of the home from the entry is that of a of a wide one story structure. In reality, the house is built into the side of a steep hill and extends three stories. Mark Sweet took on the challenge of this unique lot and helped create a home that appears to float off the landscape at times.

From the front door, made of translucent vermillion red glass, guests walk across a glass enclosed bridge to the main part of the house. On one side of the bridge are a series of paintings Deborah Oropallo while on the other side guests can look out at the natural vegetation. In the center of the bridge’s ceiling plane is a custom LED light installation designed by Randall Whitehead and fabricated by Mar Sweet. An ever changing colored light show is hidden within a custom metal trough which fills a forty foot long reveal in the ceiling. This can be set to a single band of saturated light or a dazzling array of moving color.

Once across the bridge, guests enter an enormous gallery space where two large scale pieces of art by David Maxim are hung. In the center stands a Deborah Butterfield horse which appears to greet arriving guests. In fact, the house was designed around these two impressive collages. This gallery space became the axis for how the rest of the house would be laid out. On either side of the main partition, Whitehead created with Mark Sweet, a vertical slot with a hidden light source. This little detail adds an intriguing slice of glowing energy while helping take away some of the visual weight of the structural element.

To the left of the gallery, people are invited into the living room and open kitchen area. Floor to ceiling windows look out onto planted fields and the Stanislaus River beyond. Interior designer, Nicki West, created a seating arrangement using furniture that has clean lines, luxurious fabrics and in a scale that works beautifully for these grand rooms. She also picked the finish materials that help visually warm up these enormous rooms. Whitehead selected four “Flotation” pendants by Ingo Maurer to create a more human scale to the space and lend a sculptural element that compliments the owners’ collection.

If visitors go to the right of the gallery, they enter into an open space that includes the dining room and the family room. Sanchez designed a large curved wall, projecting out from the structure that feels like a monolithic work of art, offering some privacy for both the owners and their neighbors. West’s selection of furniture pieces play off the undulating feel of the wall. Here an Ingo Maurer “Oh Mei Ma” pendant fixture appears to float in the space. A vent-less fireplace, using ethanol as a source of fuel, provides both focus and warmth f

or the family room.

The spacious master closet appears playful with the installation of Ingo Maurer pendants and sconces that appear to be winged light bulbs. The architect’s design concept included four niches featuring both two and three-dimensional works of art from the owners’ extensive collection. West designed a five-foot diameter round leather ottoman as part of the look for the overall space that is both dramatic and surprisingly functional.

Above the main floor of the house is a roof top retreat that has a whirl pool tub, a gas fire pit, and a spacious area for seating or reclining. Here the owners’ and their guests can enjoy the setting sun as the sky turns from day to night.

This project was truly the team approach to design where ideas flowed freely between all those involved. The spectacular result says it all.

by Randall Whitehead, Contributing Editor

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Visit the innovative web site of international lighting company Ingo Maurer at:

www.ingo-maurer.com

Find low voltage and fiber lighting like that pictured in this story at: www.luciferlighting.com

See the varied works of artists, Deborah Oropallo at www.wirtsgallery.com; David Maxim at http://www.queer-art.org and Deborah Butterfield at: www.gallerypauleanglim.com

Contact the California Design/Build Team:

Building Contractor- Mark Sweet 209-544-0840 m.sweet@sbcglobal.net

Architectural Designer- Conrad Sanchez- 209-522-4882 conrad@bluesi.com

Interior Designer- Nicki West 209-604-2345 nickiwest@sbcglobal.net

Lighting Designer- Randall Whitehead 415-626-1277 rdw@randallwhitehead.com

Photographer- Dennis Anderson 415-971-0722 (dandersonphoto@gmail.com)