1.
AIA Santa Clara Valley
325 S. First St., Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 298-0611
http://aiascv.org/?HomeTours
AIA South Bay Home Tours Information
Architect: Studio URBIS| Berkeley, CA
Project: Elements House
• Size of the house: 4,600 s.f.
• Size of the site: 10,000 s.f.
• Year of construction: 2013
• Project type: single family, new construction
• Architect of Record: Renee Chow
• Project Design Lead: Thomas Chastain, Antje Steinmuller
• Project Design team: Thomas Chastain, Antje Steinmuller, Emily Gosack and
Miya Muraki
• Builder: Canyon Construction
• Window and Door Manufacturers: Fleetwood
• Kitchen Cabinets: Henrybuilt
• Other important Vendors (and what they did)
Cement board: Swiss Pearl
Ecoresin panels: 3-Form
Fireplace: Regency Fire
Skylights: Solatube
• Major Finish Materials;
Exterior: Cedar and cement board rain screens; Fleetwood glass doors
Interior: 3form Varia Ecoresin Organics panels

2.
AIA Santa Clara Valley
325 S. First St., Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 298-0611
http://aiascv.org/?HomeTours
• Significant Energy Efficient Devices or Strategies: On the southern facade, heat
gain and light quality are controlled with overhangs, moveable exterior screens
and reflected daylight. Shading strategies are expressed by pairing panelized
glazing areas with screens/overhangs. For the cooler winter months, heat loss is
reduced by minimizing openings on the northern facade. This is expressed
materially in the continuous planes of cedar rain screens. Solatubes are used
throughout for natural daylighting and thermal solar panels are used for heating the
pool. Roof anchors and wiring are set for future installation of PV panels.
• Significant Sustainability Features: A central part of the design is a direct use of
materials, selected to lessen impacts on the environment. These include water
based and reduced formaldehyde finishes, soy-based foam insulation, and low voc
products. The house replaces a previous house and the materials of the original
house were disassembled to be recycled. All trees were protected during
construction.
• Interesting Structural Strategies or Problem Solving: Parallel walls structure the
narrow suburban lot into a continuous field of spaces: some water, some interior,
some landscape. The lines manifest themselves in concrete walls, exposed steel
structure, sliding or translucent layers linking and dividing different zones on the site.
The three-inch acrylic pool window allows the parents to monitor the children’s
swims from the LC4 chaise lounge. The water pressure keeps the Plexiglas shield in
place. Mobile and fixed additions hold the outdoor gardens and activities – bicycle
storage, toy storage, a cabana and shower.
• Site Stewardship: All stormwater is retained on site achieved by waterproofing
below the house foundation and pool. The area of convention turf is limited to two
areas -- between the house and pool house and the front garden. The landscaping
is all drought tolerant plants or fruit bearing plants. The drive is permeable,
decomposed granite. Hardscape is minimized and light in color. There is a high-
efficiency irrigation system.
• Materials and Systems: 25% flyash concrete was used in foundations, walls and
floors. AII floors are durable concrete or bamboo. The concrete is also used as
thermal mass. AII the appliances are energy-efficient. HVAC includes zoned,
hydronic radiant heating, whole house ventilaton and high efficiency air
conditioning. Electric car charger is in driveway.
• Special Design Problem(s) That Were Solved: Natural lighting to the basement
spaces achieved through a series of retaining walls and exterior courtyards that

3.
AIA Santa Clara Valley
325 S. First St., Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 298-0611
http://aiascv.org/?HomeTours
reflect light down into the space. The majority of the glazing area is to the south
with channel glass for light in areas where privacy is required and exterior wooden
screens hat adjust according to season and need.
• Misc.:
The owner wanted light wood finishes in a midcentury modern house like his
grandmother’s to match his collection of vintage furniture. Designers &
manufacturers:
Patio table and benches: Crate and Barrel
Dining Room vintage dining table and cane-back chairs: George Nelson
Living Room wall unit: Florence Knoll
Living Room vintage jewelry chest: George Nelson; Herman Miller
Living Room vintage table and chairs: Edward Wormley
Child’s Room Rapson Rapid Rocker: Rapson Rocker
Kitchen built-in table: Chastain
Kitchen chairs: De La Espada