Pivot House

Pivot House

Set on a gentle knoll in Portola Valley, this residence is defined by a clear structural contrast between a grounded base and a light, elevated volume. Board-formed concrete perimeter walls anchor the lower level, supporting a rotated, rectilinear second story that appears to float above.

The upper level is framed with steel Vierendeel truss systems, enabling uninterrupted views through a vertical wood louver screen. Glued-Laminated Timber (GLT) panels form the floor structure while also serving as the finished ceiling, adding warmth and texture to the main living spaces.

Concrete shear walls and steel moment frames provide lateral stability, while a detached guest house echoes the primary material palette and features a double-cantilevered concrete deck overlooking the valley.

The architectural expression is a dramatic, jewel box delicately balanced on the corners of the heavier, concrete living space, with custom fabricated moment frames which provide unobstructed, flexible spaces and a opportunity for openings which connect interior living space with the surrounding exterior landscape.

Architect

SAW // Spiegel Aihara Workshop

Contractor

Interspace Builders

Photography

Joe Fletcher Photography

Awards

Innovations

  • Dual-System Vierendeel Frame

    Steel Vierendeel truss frames serve as both gravity and lateral systems, eliminating the need for braced frames and enabling uninterrupted views.

  • Rotated Upper Volume on Concrete Base

    A rectilinear second level is rotated 45 degrees relative to the grounded, board-formed concrete base, requiring careful load transfer and diaphragm coordination between non-aligned structural grids.

  • Mass Timber Floor System

    Glued-Laminated Timber (GLT) panels function as both structural framing and exposed ceiling finish, integrating performance and architectural expression.

  • Composite Lateral Strategy

    Reinforced concrete shear walls are paired with built-up steel moment frames using bar-stock flanges anchored through the basement, creating a robust and redundant lateral system.

  • Integrated Façade + Structure System

    The structural frame supports a vertical wood louver screen, allowing environmental control and structural openness to work in tandem.

  • Double-Cantilevered Concrete Deck

    The guest house features a two-directional cantilevered concrete deck, engineered for both structural efficiency and minimal visual support.

  • Material-Driven Structural Expression

    Board-formed concrete, exposed steel, and mass timber are used not only structurally but as primary architectural elements, reinforcing clarity of load paths and system legibility.

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