To add a bit of surprise to what otherwise could be a standard ranch house façade, we wanted the updated ‘face’ of this home to feel as if it were suddenly coming alive and welcoming you as you approach. Driving up from the road, the façade screen appears solid and extremely private, yet as you move closer to face it, views through the screen open, giving glimpses into the hidden second floor courtyard beyond. Adding to the surprise is a subtle egg-shaped indentation carved into the interior of the screen –a bit of an architectural “Where’s Waldo?” that flickers in an out of view as you move past it.

The master-mason initially gave us some serious stink-eye when we asked to cast sheets of acrylic into this board-formed concrete wall, but was immensely proud when it worked. During the day, the entry powder room comes alive with bold strips of natural light. At night, though, the concrete suddenly glows, illuminating the path towards the entryway.