Projects

Pinnacle

On the Boards
Residential — New Construction
El Dorado, California

Introduction

Mid-century modern, reimagined

Perched atop Pinnacle Hill, this reimagined midcentury modern home commands an uninterrupted 360-degree view corridor, harmoniously blending timeless design with contemporary sensibilities. The innovative split-level configuration maximizes the panoramic surroundings, creating a seamless interplay between architecture and nature.

Project Notes

12,500 SF
Split level
Sited on mountain top
Full 360-degree views
Horizontal expression through rooflines

The vertical circulation of the split-level staircase forms the central spine of the residence, establishing a distinct and intentional entry sequence. From this core, movement radiates outward, guiding inhabitants to a constellation of rooms and spatial experiences. This circulation strategy not only maintains a strong sense of connection throughout the home, but also distinctly serves the varied needs of the many guests for whom it was designed—balancing openness, privacy, and flow with quiet sophistication.

The guest cottage is situated at the terrace’s edge to maximize privacy while maintaining views and visual connection to the main house. A vertical wood-slat privacy fin, echoing the home’s linear design, buffers the spaces—creating intimate separation without full enclosure. Between the cottage and residence, open-air patios and garden rooms offer layered outdoor experiences that balance social interaction with private retreat, reinforcing the home’s seamless connection to its landscape.

Vast overhangs stretch beyond the building envelope, casting deep shadows that shift with the sun and accentuate the purity of the linear composition. These broad extensions aren’t merely aesthetic—they create the visual illusion of the structure floating parallel to the horizon, merging architecture and landscape into a single, cohesive gesture. The home doesn’t just sit atop the hill; it becomes one with it, echoing the surrounding ridgelines and open sky.

Summary

Pinnacle Hills, a reinterpreted midcentury modern residence unfolds in a sculpted split-level form that gracefully follows the natural slope with a 360-degree corridor at every turn. Its silhouette is defined by elongated horizontal lines and sweeping cantilevered overhangs that reach toward the horizon, blurring the boundary between architecture and landscape.

At the heart of the residence, a sculptural split-level staircase serves as the organizing spine—guiding movement, capturing light, and introducing a dynamic vertical rhythm. Each level flows effortlessly into the next, creating spaces that balance openness with definition, where communal gathering and quiet retreat coexist in harmonious balance. The design celebrates both hospitality and introspection, inviting connection while preserving privacy.

This is architecture in quiet command—rooted yet elevated, assertive yet composed—a refined homage to midcentury modernism where structure, site, and spirit converge with deliberate harmony.