Edgewood House: A Palo Alto Deaf Space Project

The dwelling is designed for a young Deaf family, who desired an expanded open plan that incorporates Deaf-Space, creating ample transparency throughout the home, where vision and touch are a primary means of spatial awareness and orientation.

The project consists of transforming a 1950’s existing Joseph Eichler home. Using a similar material palette, the design utilizes the primary floor plan and transforms the existing space by folding out the horizontal and vertical planes of the first story to form the second story. The new roof form creates a large central area and houses a second-floor bedroom wing. Elevating and shifting parts of the structure are used to support the second story and stairways.

Table of Contents

1. Joseph Eichler
2. Project Technical Details
3. Floor Plans, Wood Model, Schematics
4. Terry and Terry Architecture
5. Greenberg Construction
   1. Supported Greenberg Projects
6. The Image Gallery

Joseph Eichler

Inspired by modernist architects like Richard Neutra and Frank Lloyd Wright, he developed quality, affordable architecture for post-WW2 American families and the mid-century time period.

He popularized, or rather, made modern architecture available to the general public. Before his influence and advocacy, mid-century modern architecture was attributed to custom residential projects and large corporate buildings. As a developer, his approach was distinctive with residential subdivisions of mid-century modern-style tract housing in California. Much of this could be found in greater Los Angeles or the greater San Francisco Bay area.

You are likely very familiar with tract housing. You’ll find this style in new expanded development projects in established or growing municipalities, in suburban areas, either on new land or land with the recent demolition of older building structures. It is a type of housing development where multiple similar homes are developed on a tract of land subdivided into small, individual lots.

The main living space is situated on the ground floor and offers expansive living spaces that extend into the landscape. Two existing bedrooms and office areas are reconfigured to become more transparent to the gardens. The second floor accommodates an extended family with two bedrooms, bathrooms, and sleeping porches.

Photovoltaic panels, solar water heating, and rain catchment systems are used to offset energy and water loads. Large overhangs provide sufficient shade during the warm months. 

Project Technical Details

Floor Plans, Wood Model, Schematics

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Terry and Terry Architecture

Terry & Terry Architecture focuses on its ability to combine innovative architectural theory and practice. The firm has explored design concepts that range from private alternative homes to urban design in collaboration with other design professionals. In an attempt to improve the built environment, it has engaged in investigations of several concepts in future infrastructures that integrate architecture and urban planning. The practice has been recognized with numerous regional and national awards. They have extensive, experience with building construction and fabrication that has enabled them to acquire first-hand knowledge of the relationship between concept, construction, and project realization.

Greenberg Construction

Greenberg Construction, Inc. LC is a full-service design and builds construction company, a sister company of Greenberg Design Gallery, Inc. Based in Palo Alto, they have over 13 years of specialized experience in construction operating in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are a ‘one-stop-shop offering our clients top-of-the-line residential and commercial architecture, design and construction services to provide transparency and peace of mind to their clients.

Greenberg Construction Inc. LC is a member of Build It Green and focuses on the latest energy-efficient products and services for environmentally-friendly living and workspaces. Clients benefit from lower electricity bills, increased property values, and healthier living.

The company has significant affiliations and certifications such as the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) San Francisco Bay Area Chapter and Silicon Valley, GreenPoint Rated – Build It Green, Better Business Bureau (BBB), Building Industry Association of the Bay Area (BIA), California Building Industry Association (CBIA), EPA, Green Building Professional, Hero, CaliforniaFirst, GreenSky, BuiltItGreen, AllianceNRG, YGRENE, Energy Upgrade California.

Supported Greenberg Projects

The Image Gallery

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