Listing of the Day
Location: Corte Madera, CaliforniaPrice: $29 million
From its rammed-earth exterior to its solar-paneled roof to the organic garden where tomatoes, lettuces, and artichokes grow, nearly every part of this Marin County home was designed with sustainability in mind.
The architect is Sim Van der Ryn, a leader in sustainable architecture. He comes with an impressive pedigree: For 35 years, Mr. Van der Ryn worked as a professor of architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, and served as California’s State Architect under Governor Jerry Brown in the 1970s. He, along with architect Peter Calthorpe, designed the Bateson Building in Sacramento, which was the state’s first energy-efficient and climate-responsive building.
More:Outdoor Spaces at High-End Residences Are Going Green
In 1996, Mr. Van der Ryn was asked by the original owners to design the house, which was finished in 2002. Five years later, the current owners bought the estate.
The house is built from rammed earth—an ancient technique—and strengthened with fly ash, a by-product of coal-fired power plants. Solar panels on the roof fuel most of the electricity and hot water. There is geothermal heating, dug 300 feet deep, to keep the house warm.
The 11-acre property also has three wells, with enough water stored in containers to last a full year, said listing agent Danielle Chavanon of Sotheby’s International Realty.
The Stats
The 9,725-square-foot main residence has four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and four partial baths. From the house, there are views of San Francisco, as well as Mount Tamalpais.
There’s also a guesthouse with two bedrooms and two full bathrooms, as well as a full kitchen.
Amenities
The property includes a swimming pool with a custom waterslide, a hot tub, and a racquetball court. There's also a fitness center, a home theater, a recording studio, and a wine cellar.
An organic garden grows in a greenhouse. Outside, artichokes, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and green peppers are cultivated on raised beds. There’s a beehive, as well as a chicken coop.
More:A Modern Home With a River in the Middle
Neighborhood Notes
Corte Madera sits on the edge of Mill Valley and is 10 miles from San Francisco, via the Golden Gate Bridge.
It’s also six miles from Sausalito and Muir Woods. The latter is known for its redwoods, which soar upwards of 250 feet, and are anywhere from 600 to 800 years old.
Agent: Danielle Chavanon and Isobel Wiener, Sotheby’s International Realty
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