1241 Westview Drive rises from its hillside like an extension of the land itself. Redwood beams, stone, and swaths of windows so massive they disappear, so that looking out of them is like standing on a precipice above the home’s sweeping views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Jack Hillmer, the elusive architect of this home was enthralled by nature, redwood trees and modernist design. Entering Westview, one experiences the classic architectural concept of compression and expansion. The entry is through a stoned foyer that turns a corner into a stunning open-concept space. The ceilings are two stories high, vaulted, oak planks supported by massive redwood beams. A stone fireplace grounds the space and is flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the breathtaking Bay views. Towards the windows is the living area, spanning the entire length of the home. Tucked just behind, in a room walled with bookshelves, is the office with built-in blonde wood desks. From here is the first floor bathroom, tiled in a delicate blue. Just around the corner is the kitchen, elegant in its simplicity with custom cabinetry, counter bar, concrete walls, and a slate floor with a dining room that flows to the backyard. The backyard shares those very same bay views, from the privacy of a verdant courtyard and a wisteria tree that is stunning when in bloom. A lawn and a luxurious firepit are the cornerstones of this space, both private and expansive. Back inside, and up the set of floating stairs, are the two bedrooms with custom built-in queen beds with custom cabinetry. They share a bright bathroom, washed in sunlight that dances on the walls due to giant skylights and nearly a wall of mirrors. From here, step out to the backyard courtyard, an insular space on the hill side of the home. The trickling of the fountain, and quiet birdsong, reminds us we’re tucked in the Berkeley Hills, home to much beautiful natural life. Outside again, and downstairs, is the apartment. A studio, with a minimal, modern kitchen, cement walls and a tasteful bathroom. 

1241 Westview must be experienced. On paper, it is 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, with an apartment, 2424 sqft and built in 1996. But in reality, it is a sculpture. It is a collision of the man-made and the natural world. It is art as much as it is a house. Welcome Home!