Hicks Mountain Ranch is a 900-acre sustainable ranching operation in West Marin County. The watershed, which includes grassland, wetland, and riparian habitats had been impacted by decades of grazing. In addition to developing a home on the property, plans were instituted to restore the ecosystem and mitigate the impacts of development. In addition to undertaking comprehensive ecological restoration of the site, SWA designed landscape for the main residence, and potential (future?) pool house, ranch manager’s house, and barn site, as well as a bridge to prevent future impacts to the stream. The main residence features an internal courtyard to mitigate the extremes of the West Marin climate, organized around a raised hot and cold pool that look like a water feature. The design draws inspiration from the spring boxes and water troughs of the surrounding pastoral landscape, fulfilling the owner’s desire for a distinctive family gathering place while restoring the site to its pre-use ecological condition.
Elan The Presidential
At Elan the Presidential, residents are taken on a journey through the passage of water, cascading through multiple levels within the development before culminating at the central clubhouse and pool. Green spaces complement the water features, bringing nature into the site, with 60% of the development dedicated to open space and outdoor amenities.
Resid...
Park WellState Nishiazabu Tower
With over a third of its population above the age of 65, Japan has the oldest population of any country in the world. To meet the growing needs of seniors, innovative companies across the country have created elder-focused developments and programs that center core values of dignified, social, and active aging—including Park Wellstate, the senior division of h...
Crest Apartments
Situated within the suburban context of the Los Angeles Valley, Crest Apartments provides 64 residences for the homeless, including 23 reserved for disabled veterans. The building’s striking geometry is complemented by a flexible, multi-layered, and multi-textured landscape that support social, experiential, and environmental programs. The ground cover plant s...
Stanford Toyon Hall
Toyon Hall, a significant historic building originally designed by Bakewell and Brown Architects in 1922, is a three-story structure centered around a magnificent formal courtyard with arcades and arches. The purpose of the project was to preserve, maintain and enhance the building and site. SWA scope of work included evaluation of existing site conditions and...