Viewridge / Feldman Architecture

Architects: Feldman Architecture
Year: 2023
Photography: Adam Rouse
Principal Architect: Steven Stept, AIA
Design Team: Lindsey Theobald (Director of Interiors), Matt Lindsay (Senior Job Captain), Drew Curran (Designer)
Lighting: Kim Cladas Lighting Design
Landscape Architecture: Bliss Landscape Architecture
Structural Engineer: BKG Structural Engineers
Construction: Brian Garcia Construction
City: San Mateo, California
Country: United States

Viewridge residential renovation, designed by Feldman Architecture in San Mateo, California, has transformed a modest ranch-style dwelling into a more cohesive, daylight-filled residence that enhances the connection between interior and exterior spaces. The project improved circulation, expanded sightlines, and introduced natural materials that integrate the home more directly with its wooded surroundings. The intervention maintained the original structure’s low-profile form while aligning it with the environmental priorities and design literacy of the clients.

Viewridge, a residential renovation by Feldman Architecture, revisits the traditional suburban ranch home in San Mateo, California by introducing contemporary design strategies that strengthen its relationship with the surrounding landscape. Situated on a private corner lot, the existing home was appreciated by its owners for its quiet presence, sense of seclusion, and integration with mature oak trees and native plantings. The clients, one of whom leads Sustainable Design at Google Hardware, were experienced in design collaboration and sought an approach that would preserve the understated character of the original structure while improving spatial quality and connectivity.

The architectural team restructured the house’s central axis, beginning with reconfiguring the previously narrow and dark entry and hallway. The entry was extended toward the street to create a more welcoming threshold, and a large window was positioned at the end of the hall to draw in light and frame outward views. Portions of the original roof trusses were removed, allowing the hallway ceiling to be raised. Asymmetrical skylights were added, casting shifting daylight across the corridor and creating what the architects describe as a “dynamic architectural spine” that organizes and illuminates the interior.

The main living areas combined formerly separated spaces into a single open plan. The kitchen, dining, and living zones form a continuous volume that opens to a rear deck through large sliding doors, facilitating an uninterrupted indoor-outdoor connection. A restored wood ceiling in the living room establishes material continuity with the custom wood cabinetry in the kitchen and a crafted wood screen that subtly delineates the living space from the entry. This use of wood across key elements unifies the renovated interiors.

The primary suite was updated and now opens directly to a new wrap-around deck, offering framed views of the surrounding oak canopy. Exterior upgrades included modernized cladding and roofing, providing a more refined appearance while retaining the home’s original low-profile silhouette. In the backyard, poured concrete walls articulate two distinct outdoor zones, reinforcing the architectural rhythm established indoors. At the front, a combination of low concrete walls and strategic planting adds privacy and strengthens the transition from public to private space.

The project team included Bliss Landscape Architecture, Kim Cladas Lighting Design, BKG Structural Engineers, and Brian Garcia Construction. The result is a carefully composed renovation that preserves the spirit of the original home while introducing spatial clarity, material precision, and a deepened connection to the natural context. The design reflects both the environmental values and spatial ambitions of its clients without departing from the quiet language of the original structure.