Clive Wilkinson's $15-million renovation of Google's company base in Mountain View in 2006 was a defining moment in his career. The renovation included an additional 180,000 square-feet of new office space, and it helped to define what would become his signature approach - designing for a crowd. This "architecture of togetherness" was an ideal that Mr. Wilkinson would return to later when designing for a private home - his own.
The House That Google Built
The New York Times 08.28.08
Mr. Wilkinson's 3,300-square-foot, 3-bedroom house near Melrose Avenue is comprised of two overlapping stucco "barns" (containing the living areas, kitchen/dining room, and guest bedrooms), and a third barn for the master bedroom. Rooms slide open to each other and the outdoors, and guests walk out onto platform porches and a large communal space.
The contrast of raw wood with modern industrial materials is another central theme. Resilient white rubber covers the stairs, and the handrails are made of industrial-strength tension cable. The home office is also turned "upside down" with the raw plank wood on the ceiling and the "ceiling white" rubber on the floor.
During the design process, Mr. Wilkinson's mantra was: "How simple can you do it?" and "Do I need it?" The home mixes intimate details with open spaces and industrial elements with natural forms. The end (and desired) result: a family-friendly space Mr. Wilkinson hoped was lovely enough "that girls would forget [his] innumerable failings."
For more on Clive Wilkinson and his designs, visit The New York Times. Make sure to check out the slideshow for more images.
Images: Ethan Pines for The New York Times
Comments (15)
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Pssst ... I think the house is actually in West Hollywood (not Mountain View).
view anh-minh's profile
major drool.
view kdkaboom's profile
Aha! Noted.
view CambriaNYAT's profile
From my (female) perspective, I think he has succeeded.
view pvett's profile
LOVE the "upside down" office. a space like that would actually help me do work at home.
view kitkatkasha's profile
Re: "Mantra of 'How simple can you do it?' and "Do I need it?'"
Based on "3,300-square-foot, 3-bedroom house... comprised of two overlapping stucco "barns" (containing the living areas, kitchen/dining room, and guest bedrooms), and a third barn for the master bedroom... platform porches and a large communal space."
Um, not very, and guess he does?
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
what's those yellow honnycomb shelvings used in both projects?
view nato's profile
I'm enamored with the cushy chair next to the easel. (With the flower pillow on it.) Any idea where it's from?
view unm00red's profile
Need more pics of his house...
Are those Eames LCW chairs used for as dining chairs?
view cscamp20's profile
I would love to work for Google! one day... one day!
view cscamp20's profile
I've worked at the Google Mountain View campus for 3 years now and I'm somewhat disappointed with the design. It doesn't have staying power. While there are a few eye-catching lines and pieces here and there, overall the campus feels disintegrated and empty, like a pretty design that has no soul.
This house strikes me as more of the same: great at first peek, but not a design for the ages. It just doesn't have character.
view session's profile
unm00red,
i think that's the Calin chair by Ligne Roset.
view sissaphus's profile
patrick (the other one),
that's pretty funny :)
view sissaphus's profile
Session-- I think you are very perceptive. His designs are so "dot-com"-- more luster than value. He does have some great ideas but everything does seem too perfect. Who wouldn't want a little more texture and homeliness to make the place more liveable? He needs to hire a decorator ;)
view realdesigner's profile
I worked across the street from the Google (Silicon Graphics) at the time campus in early 2000; we used to go for a work around the capus & to their cafeteria & enjoyed the grounds' now it all SO secure (security people would not let you even close :) - why?
view nato's profile