In America’s Priciest Zip Code This House Approaches Sales Records Using ‘Wealth’ Design Principles

With views toward San Francisco, the town of Atherton, California has consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest zip codes in America. It came in at the top spot again last year with a median sales price of $6.7 million and builders continue to bet on the bullish market with new construction at record breaking prices. This $24.9 million new construction, designed with the wealth-attracting principles of Feng Shui, has just come on the market and should it achieve its asking price it will be one of only about a dozen homes to ever sell for that high a price in Atherton. According to public records the highest priced sale on record is a $36.7 million sale that took place in 2013. Latest reports indicate the most expensive home currently for sale in the Bay Area is a $45 million off-market listing with elaborate ‘biophilia’ features.  

This house is a cantilevered blend of concrete and glass strategically terraced in to the side of the hill so that it has views of the Bay (one of the few homes in Atherton with such all encompassing views). Feng shui principles designed to attract wealth and good fortune start at the entrance to the 16,000 square foot home with the water element surrounding the walkway to the front door. That same front door is positioned so that when you enter the home the stove in the kitchen isn’t visible, thus adhering to another of Feng Shui’s principles, according to the listing.

As the listing also states, the ‘grounded nature of the home will allow the owner to expand their income’. This wide angle view below shows how architect Stanley Saitowitz designed the entire build around the contours of the hill so that the cantilevered pieces would appear to float in the air. The private terrace off of the master bedroom (seen on the right of the picture) hangs over the steepest part of the hill giving it a suspended effect which appears to be balanced by the second cantilevered overhang atop the main segment of the house. Making sure the master bedroom was not over the kitchen is another Feng Shui design principle. There are six bedrooms and seven bathrooms in the main house and two separate guest houses with a full kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. 

Even the shape of the property has wealth in mind. Note this overhead view which shows the outline of the land is similar to that of a money purse. The two overlapping L shapes of the home are also apparent in this photo.

For a look inside, here’s the kitchen. Saitowitz designed the house so that the kitchen, the heart of the home, would be both at the apex of the hill and the center of the house. It comes with Italian Arclinea cabinetry, Carrara marble, Thermador induction cooktop and two sets of ovens, dishwashers, and refrigerator/freezers all by Miele. 

The nature of the hillside allowed for a basement level with natural light. To the left of this photo, just out of view, is a large wall designed for showing films.

One of the living rooms has a fully retractable sliding glass door to create and indoor/outdoor entertaining area near the pool.

Here’s another of the bedrooms with the great views.

The home office captures the views of the backyard and pool area.

The home also comes with radiant floor heating, Control4 whole-home automation and 4 electric car charging stations (three inside the garage) and solar-powered electricity. The 1.63 acre grounds include imported olive trees, bocce court, built-in barbecue station

For more information and a video interview with the architect, here’s a dedicated website for 96 Ridge View Drive via Compass listing agents Mary and Brent Gullixson.

Related on Forbes: San Francisco’s Most Expensive Is This $45 Million Biophilia Listing 

Follow me on Twitter @amydobsonRE

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.