Over the next few weeks, I depart from writing on broad real estate topics and instead focus on architecture, namely new construction in the Peninsula, specifically new single-family homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City. What excites me most about architecture in these areas is not the finishes, materials or what we typically see, but the way rooms flow, the floor plan and how space is generally used. In my opinion, the spaces and flow between spaces in a home are one of the most important considerations when evaluating a new home purchase. Why? Whether we spend all of our time or no time in room is usually determined by how well the space is crafted.
Consider the following questions: how many windows, of what size, and how many walls have windows? What direction and view do these windows face? Is the room connected to the world outside or is it isolated? Is the room connected to the rest of the house or is isolated? You get the point. While TV home shows, magazines and pop culture suggest we look at finishes and materials (and thereby become better consumers), I suggest we see what is not normally seen.
So my goal is simple: by looking at new homes throughout the coming weeks, we’ll teach each other how to look at space with a new perspective, a perspective that is sensitive to how well each space compliments the life we live today and the life we are creating for tomorrow (me with my posts, and you with your comments). Imagine walking into a home and instantly knowing whether it sustains life or flattens it. With that said, I hope you look forward to my first post on a very well done, Spanish Villa in Professorville, Palo Alto.
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