There can be your advertisement

300x150

Ideas for Home

Honoring the Past, Designing for the Future: Olof Dahlstrand House Renovation by Klopf Architecture

This page is also available in the following languages:🇷🇺🇺🇦🇫🇷🇩🇪🇪🇸🇵🇱🇨🇳
Modern dining area with wooden accents, green living wall, and contemporary decor, natural daylight, stylish pendant lights, and unobstructed view to the street

A Rare Architectural Gem

Located in the hills of Orinda, California, this 1951 home is one of only seven remaining houses designed by Olof Dahlstrand, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Known as the "Seven Greats," these homes embody Wright's principles of organic architecture: low-pitched roofs, natural materials, and a strong dialogue with the sloped landscape.

For decades, subsequent owners resisted the temptation to modernize at the expense of authenticity. Each new homeowner preserved Dahlstrand's original concept, allowing the house to remain a living artifact of mid-century modern design.

When a family of five acquired the property, they were inspired by its history but also aware of 21st-century living needs. Their goal was clear: honor the spirit of Dahlstrand's design while adapting the house into a comfortable and sustainable family home.

Renovation Rooted in Respect

Klopf Architecture, with support from Larwood Construction and structural engineer Daniel Bastia, approached the renovation with a shared ethos: any intervention should serve the integrity of the original architecture.

The goal was not to rewrite history but to allow it to continue. This meant respecting the authenticity of materials, preserving distinctive features, and seamlessly integrating new technologies and comfort.

One of the most decisive interventions was the kitchen space. Traditionally closed kitchens, inspired by Wright, favored intimacy over openness. Klopf reconfigured the layout to allow natural light to flow and improve connections with adjacent rooms, while maintaining a sense of spatial separation. Replacing an exposed beam with a hidden steel solution, the team preserved continuous ceiling lines that define Dahlstrand's aesthetic.

Light, Flow, and Details

The renovation also reimagined circulation and lighting throughout the home. The bathroom, previously accessible only through the kitchen, was relocated, with its replacement carved out of furniture space. Expanding the transom window frame and skylight transformed what could have been a dark corner into a bright, cozy area.

New solid wood doors with mahogany finish reflect the original color palette. Even small details, such as door handle placement—mounted exactly 42 inches high—demonstrate a commitment to proportion and authenticity.

Interior wood elements, such as redwood panels characteristic of the house, were carefully restored. When replacement was needed—for instance, ceiling panels—the materials were selected and detailed to be indistinguishable from the original. The hidden door in the new bathroom disappears into a wall of planks and slats thanks to custom-designed opening mechanisms developed by architects and executed with surgical precision by the contractor.

Sustainability and Modern Comfort

Though no major technical issues arose, the renovation embraced sustainability and energy efficiency. Roof insulation was updated, solar panels with battery storage were installed, and ductless mini-split systems now regulate indoor comfort.

Lighting combines history with innovation: new square LED fixtures echo the original perimeter ceiling lamps, ensuring continuity in form and function.

Planned bedroom expansion was postponed due to cost, but the design team maximized existing space by solving spatial constraints with creativity rather than increasing square footage.

Collaboration as Art

The renovation was also a story of people, not just architecture. Owners played an active role—one was detail-oriented in design, the other focused on practical durability, ensuring a balance between aesthetics and functionality in every decision.

This collaborative approach, uniting the client, architect, and contractor, created a renovation that is neither a recreation of the past nor a radical overhaul. Instead, it's an architectural conversation across decades—a continuation of Dahlstrand’s vision in the present.

Legacy Preserved, Future Secured

The renovated home now represents a mid-century modern house in time—a space that honors Olof Dahlstrand's architectural legacy while meeting modern family needs. Grounded in nature, craftsmanship, and human scale, it ensures that this rare California mid-century architectural landmark will continue to inspire generations.

Powder room of the Olof Dahlstrand House with lacquered mirrors by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedPowder room and shower of the Olof Dahlstrand House by Klopf Architecture with textured glass window, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedFreestanding bathtub under skylight with lacquered faucet of the Olof Dahlstrand House by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedLiving room of the Olof Dahlstrand House with chairs by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedMedia wall of the Olof Dahlstrand House with TV and wooden table by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedLiving room of the Olof Dahlstrand House with sofa and orange artwork by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedKitchen of the Olof Dahlstrand House with range and waterfall by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedKitchen island of the Olof Dahlstrand House with globe lights and chairs by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedKitchen details of the Olof Dahlstrand House by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedKitchen backsplash of the Olof Dahlstrand House with landscape window by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedKitchen garden door of the Olof Dahlstrand House by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedCorridor of the Olof Dahlstrand House with ribbon windows by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedMoss wall in dining room of the Olof Dahlstrand House by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedEntry of the Olof Dahlstrand House with wood paneling and glass door by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedPowder room of the Olof Dahlstrand House with geometric tile and lacquered light fixture by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedGeometric tile detail under skylight of the Olof Dahlstrand House by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedLiving room of the Olof Dahlstrand House with fireplace and built-in sofa by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedLiving room of the Olof Dahlstrand House with fireplace and built-in sofa by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedBedroom of the Olof Dahlstrand House with Eames lounge chair and terrace doors by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedNightstand with lamp and shelves in bedroom of the Olof Dahlstrand House by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedNightstand and lamp details in bedroom of the Olof Dahlstrand House by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedWardrobe in bedroom of the Olof Dahlstrand House with lacquered handles by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedMid-century modern house with flat roof and large windows, surrounded by green vegetation in a landscape gardentitle="Olof Dahlstrand House Renovation – Exterior Garden Façade by Klopf Architecture">Photo © Mariko ReedFront entry door of the Olof Dahlstrand House with plant frame by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko ReedLiving room of the Olof Dahlstrand House with sculptural light fixture by Klopf Architecture, Orinda, California, USAPhoto © Mariko Reed