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Jim Austin - 715-323-3588
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Mike Schweiss - 507-426-8273
Owner, Schweiss Doors
Images (from top left): LosAltosHome1.jpg; LosAltosHome2.jpg; LosAltosHome3.jpg; LosAltosHome4.jpg; LosAltosHome5.jpg; LosAltosHome6.jpg; LosAltosHome7.jpg (PHOTO CAPTIONS available at end of article.)
Silicon Valley dream home has large Schweiss hydraulic glass great room curtain wall
FAIRFAX, Minn., September 5, 2018 – This ultra-contemporary California project, the creation of the award-winning architectural firm of M•Designs Architects and a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur, is an example of architectural design and engineering at the forefront of smart, sustainable living in the 21st century.
The home is owned by Malika Junaid, principal at M•Designs, and Junaid Qurashi, a tech entrepreneur and engineer, and is situated in a very scenic location overlooking the San Francisco Bay and northern Silicon Valley in Los Altos Hills, Calif.
The soaring ceilings of the Great Room of this 9,000-plus square foot new home is where every aspect of modern living can be experienced. And at the center of the Great Room is a circular glass-floored dining area cantilevered over a 60-foot long indoor swimming pool. The floor of the indoor pool is made of miniature mosaic tile, inspired by Michelangelo’s “Hand of God and Adam” in the Sistine Chapel.
The north-facing front façade of the Great Room has a Schweiss Doors hydraulic door measuring 23 feet tall by 36-feet, 7 inches wide. The glass curtain wall-door allows the entire façade of the home to be opened like an aircraft hangar door. The moving wall is equipped with electric photo eye sensors and a door base safety edge.
“The beauty of this is the sun never hits the door and the view overlooks the bay so you always have shade without the sun in your eyes,” Junaid says. “It’s just magical when the door opens up. We decided on a hydraulic door because we needed nearly a 90-degree opening for an unobstructed view and the wall to simply disappear. When the door is open, the majestic oak trees and breathtaking bay area views make the indoors an outdoor living experience.”
Triple glass from Viracon was used on the door, adding approximately 10,000 pounds to the frame. It’s double pane where one side is laminated and the other side is tempered on the bottom in case the glass would ever break. The door was installed by ABS Builders of Maxwell, Calif., and MB Construction of Hayward, Calif.
“When we decided to do this feature, we looked into different companies, but at the end settled on Schweiss Doors,” Junaid says. “Brent and the Schweiss team were extremely helpful throughout the process. It was a complex project; a great deal of credit goes to Schweiss engineers and Hohback Lewin Engineers of Palo Alto, Calif., to help us achieve our design vision.”
Being in the Silicon Valley, this residence is the epitome of the next generation smart home automation and state-of-the-art audio/visual experience. The residence takes sustainable living to the next level. Green elements include highly efficient aluminum floor heating, rainwater harvesting, gray water recycling, solar photovoltaic panels, dehumidification and a fresh-air circulation system for optimal health and comfort for the family. Interior circulation is achieved through the use of stainless steel staircases, glass bridges and a Jetsons-style clear vacuum elevator.
After two years of construction, the home was featured in the Silicon Valley Modern Home Tour and is being submitted for various architectural awards.
Schweiss Doors is the premier manufacturer of hydraulic and bifold liftstrap doors. Doors are custom made to any size for any type of new or existing building for architects and builders determined to do amazing things with their buildings, including the doors. Schweiss also offers a cable to liftstrap conversion package. For more information, visit www.bifold.com.
Photo Captions:
LosAltosHome1: The Great Room of this ultra-contemporary 9,991-square-foot Silicon Valley home has soaring ceilings and natural light flowing uninterrupted through a glass Schweiss Doors hydraulic system curtain wall measuring 23 feet tall by 36 feet. It can be opened fully to create a true indoor/outdoor experience.
LosAltosHome2: When fully extended, the 23-foot by 36-foot glass hydraulic door gives an unobstructed view of the San Francisco Bay and keeps everything dry underneath it.
LosAltosHome3: The center of the Great Room with its circular glass-floored dining area cantilevered over a 60-foot long indoor swimming pool looks out over the scenic Bay and Silicon Valley. The floor of the indoor pool is made of miniature mosaic tile inspired by Michelangelo’s “Hand of God and Adam” in the Sistine Chapel.
LosAltosHome4: The cantilevered dining table is the centerpiece of the Great Room. The hydraulic glass curtain wall door gets lots of use and is opened on a weekly basis or more.
LosAltosHome5: The circular dining table is situated just above the pool beneath it.
LosAltosHome6: Inside the Great Room, to the left, is a huge kitchen with a 19-foot cantilevered island cooking surface. To the right is the family room with a three-sided glass fireplace.
LosAltosHome7: This aerial view shows how the hydraulic door was lifted into place over the roof of the home with the use of a large crane.
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