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Berkeley Hills New Home Construction
Focus
Custom Home Build on A Steep Hillside
Location
Berkeley, California
Year
1998
Client Feedback
“Thanks for making our dream home come true. We’ve encountered minimal maintenance costs due to the high-quality construction.”
Project Overview:
Rebuilding After the Oakland Hill Fires
As a testament to resilience and reconstruction after the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire disaster, Associated Builders constructed a seismically secure, hillside custom home on a steep lot where the original house and land had been destroyed. From foundation and landscaping to roof, all construction activity was directly implemented by Associated Builders’ multi-faceted team with strategic input from specialist technicians.
Client Vision:
Located on a steep grade in a seismically active zone, the client understood the importance of working with a contractor with proven track-record of anchoring structures on challenging slopes. Initial work included removing the original house’s foundation, driveway and other concrete supports and grading a stable site to build. The project’s complexity further demanded meticulous planning and a design-build approach. Every corner of the 6,500 square foot home structure was customized to the client’s desire, at times resulting in slight modifications as the built structure solidified. In addition to the three story, four bedroom, four bath house, a two-car garage and two-car driveway were completed. Terraced landscaping was constructed focusing on drought and fire-resistant native plants. The property’s bay view sweeps from downtown Oakland to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Key Takeaways:
- Hillside Mastery: The project is a result of Associated Builders’ effective coordination between soils engineer, structural engineer, architect, and owner as well as successful design-build approach required to construct a home on a challenging hillside with unique geological conditions.
- Custom Craftsmanship: The entire home was custom-built to bring the client’s architectural vision to life, with high-end finishes and hardware that suited the client’s taste.
- Benefits of a one-stop shop. Hiring a contractor who can conduct both essential and custom work minimizes project management overheads and results in significant cost- and time savings. By coordinating and sequencing timelines and teams, Associated Builders was the main project manager creating a more streamlined process and enjoyable experience for our client.