HILLTOPMARVEL

A 20-acre estate above the Berkeley Hills boasts architecture

inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and jaw-dropping views from
Mount Tamalpais to Stanfords Hoover Tower.

The outdoor spaces at this unique estate are

every bit as important as the interior ones.
Water features abound, evoking elements of a
Japanese garden. The 20-acre property is on
the market with Pacific Union Real Estate for
just over 21 million. www.FeltonEstate.com

s a young boy growing up in Pittsburgh, Robert W. Felton and his

family frequented the famed Kaufmanns department storea dazzling emporium renowned for its
luxury goods and forward thinking.
Proprietor Edgar Kaufmann, Sr., is reported to have made the
first telephone call across the Atlantic to Paris to inquire about a
designer dress. Like many of Pittsburghs elite, the Kaufmanns
would escape the industrial citys smog for the fresh air and
breathtaking scenery of the Alleghany mountains southeast of the
city. In the 1930s, they commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to
craft a vacation home for them at Bear Run. Their initial thought
was to have a home with a view of a spectacular waterfall. Wright
had other ideas. He wanted the Kaufmanns to live day in and out
with the falls, so he set one of his signature masterpieces, Fallingwater, atop the falls. When Felton saw Fallingwater for the first
time, he fell in love and knew immediately that someday he
would build a dream home channeling Wrights influence.
After several successful decades in the software industry, Felton embarked on building that residence. He broke ground on a
house in Berkeley, but his architect and builder informed him that
the city would insist upon building a costly retaining wall if they
continued with their original concept. They knew Felton had a
bold vision and encouraged him to look at a unique piece of
property atop the Berkeley/Oakland hills ridgeline instead.
Unique indeedthe property consisted of 40 acres, owned by the

January February 2015 | GENTRY HOME 49

The outdoor lap pool is a swimmers dream.

On days with inclement weather, a jetted indoor
pool can help you stay in shape along with a
spectacular gym and steam room.

Felton relished the challenge of

pushing the architecture of his home
to new heights.He devised a
structure of intersecting cylinders
and echoed Wrights organic
philosophy throughout
the 14,000-square-foot residence.

The great room provides jaw-dropping

views of five of the Bay Areas bridges
and an unmatched vista of the
San Francisco skyline. The room covers 2,000 square feet and boasts a
magnificent acoustical ceiling.

Varney family for decades, which commanded arresting views of the Bay Areas
five bridges. Felton had found the site for his dream home. After some deft negotiation, he purchased the entire parcel, carved off half for development, and designated the other half for his own estate.
Being an engineer, Felton relished the challenge of pushing the architecture of
his home to new heights. He devised a structure of intersecting cylinders and
echoed Wrights organic philosophy throughout the 14,000-square-foot residence, particularly the importance of interpenetrating exterior and interior spaces
and the strong emphasis placed on the connection between the house and site. To
that end, beautiful terrazzo floors run from the homes many terraces straight
through to the interiors, and multiple water features abound.
An art collector and automobile aficionado, Felton made sure to create a
gallery space for paintings and sculpture as well as a 16-car garage. An indoor jet
pool may be used when the weather is too stormy to take laps in the outdoor 60foot lap pool. A spectacular home gym and sauna make staying in shape fun. But
the room that Felton enjoys the most takes full advantage of Golden Gate Bridge
and San Francisco city views. Felton worked with the late San Francisco designer
Jonathan Straley to create a furnishings scheme that would not distract from the
views. The color schemes are muted, letting the color of the sky take center stage.
At nearly 2,000 square feet, the living room could have had a cavernous feel, but
Feltons deft use of geometry and acoustics created a variety of intimate spaces
within the larger room. As a result, the home is as comfortable for one as it is for
parties of a hundred.
Felton incorporated seven fireplaces into his design, along with 4+ bedroom
suites and 11 bathrooms. Every detail, from the infinity lap pool, to the coppertopped domes, to the handpicked stone, has been thoughtfully set in its place to
create a sublime symmetry and a balance with the beauty of the natural surroundings. Those natural surroundings include a combination of contemporary gardens, olive orchards, a hummingbird sanctuary, and a vineyard of 200 lovingly
manicured stocks of Pinot Noir grapes, as well as some 200 stocks of Chardonnay
grapes. Felton is quick to say that one of his favorite aspects of the property is the
ability to take evening walks through the groundsa glass of Chardonnay in
handand toast the day. One can imagine that even the worst of days could be
made better by feasting on the view from this sublime spot. N

January February 2015 | GENTRY HOME 53