From the street in Mill Valley, California, this hillside home by Zack | de Vito Architecture + Construction keeps its secrets well hidden. Built into the slope of a steep Marin County site, the house presents a compact, almost industrial face to the neighborhood, its exterior wrapped entirely in weathering steel that will continue to oxidize and deepen in color over time.
That rugged shell is softened the moment you arrive. A bold yellow pivoting front door cuts through the steel exterior, offering a playful and unexpected welcome that hints at the warmth and light waiting inside.
Step through the door and the house immediately reveals its dramatic vertical journey. Instead of rising upwards, the home unfolds downward, with a sculptural staircase leading from the foyer into the social heart of the house. The stairs are crafted from laser cut steel plate stringers, paired with clear acrylic treads that have been sanded to create a soft, diffused finish. The result is striking yet light, allowing views and daylight to pass through as you descend.
At the bottom of the stairs, the living room opens up in full. Double height ceilings create a sense of volume and openness, while walls of windows frame sweeping views of the surrounding trees and hillside. Despite the scale of the space, it feels grounded and personal, thanks to a floor-to-ceiling wood bookcase that stretches across one wall, offering space for books, art and everyday objects.
Glass sliding doors connect the living room directly to an outdoor deck, where a minimalist glass railing keeps the focus firmly on the landscape beyond. With the doors open, the boundary between inside and out almost disappears, making the deck feel like a natural extension of the living space.
The kitchen continues the home’s calm palette. Dark and light wood cabinetry sit side by side, creating contrast without overpowering the room. A carefully positioned window frames a view of the trees, while a mirrored surface reflects both the floating shelves and incoming light, subtly brightening the corner and adding depth to the space.
In the bathroom, the material contrast becomes more tactile. A built-in bathtub is wrapped in large grey tiles that extend across the walls and tub surround, setting off the crisp white of the bath itself. The result is understated and spa-like, with a sense of solidity that echoes the home’s connection to the hillside.
Throughout the house, the architecture balances strength and softness, from the weathering steel exterior to the light-filled interiors shaped by glass, wood and carefully framed views. What begins as a quiet, industrial form from the street unfolds into a surprisingly open and welcoming home.
Photography by Bruce Damonte | Architecture firm: Zack | de Vito Architecture + Construction | Lead Architect and Interiors: Jim Zack, with Andrew Germann, Sarah Sexhauer Nicolas | Landscape Design: Lise de Vito | Construction Lead and Build – Development Partner: Bruce Wickstrom
Source: Contemporist
