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.
Zakin Residence
SWA worked closely with the client and architect in siting the house to maximize views and preserve opportunities in which to develop the landscape. The varied program for the landscape included a small family vineyard, a multi-use field, flower gardens, fountains, terraces, a koi pond, swimming pool and spa, tennis courts, courtyards, a heli-pad and guest par...
Vi Living (Formerly Classic Residence By Hyatt)
The Classic Residence by Hyatt in Palo Alto provides seniors with independent and assisted living facilities. The roughly 19-acre site is adjacent to the San Francisquito Creek, a shopping mall, and two in-progress SWA projects- Ronald McDonald House and Stanford West Apartments. Hyatt has been working closely with SWA as well as the City of Palo Alto and Stan...
Pine Lake Residence
This site is a 1300-acre ranch situated in East Texas, approximately 100 miles from Dallas. The site consists of pine and hardwood forests with an occasional hay field and two lakes. The project completely renovated an existing ranch house and cottage situated on one of the lakes, added a two-story guest house, two-story boat house, a large pool and gardens. T...
Amber Bay
The Amber Bay residential development is located on a beautiful rocky promontory that is among the last available parcels along the Dalian shoreline, southeast of the city center. The project features high-end low density modern style residential development including single family villas, townhouses, and low-rise condominiums; shops and seafood restaurants on...