A newly built home in Berkeley, California, is nicknamed the “Nest House” for a section separated from the main residence by an enclosed bridge, a distinctive feature the listing agent said adds value to outdoor space below.
The architects had the neomodernist home built without a buyer in mind so they could carry out their vision for the property, according to Scott Leverette of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty. The nest was part of that vision for the home at 1158 Cragmont Ave. in the Berkeley Hills neighborhood. The 3,583-square-foot, five-bedroom and four-bath residence is on the market for $4.6 million.
The architects from Artifact Collaborative that designed the tri-level property were "much more concerned about the design and creating something really special” than making a quick sale, Leverette said in an interview.
Leverette said the nest could be used as a separate bedroom suite because it includes its own bath, but it could also be a workout space or a second office. The house also has a space designed to be used as either a bedroom or an office on the upper floor of the main section with access to an outdoor deck. The main entrance to the house opens onto that upstairs space, adjacent to a garage.
“They kind of designed the house from the perspective of a two-income power household with kids,” he said. “The upper office is designed for entertaining but also the way we work now — a lot from home, a few days in the office, and certainly around the kids’ schedule.”
Below the upper floor is the main floor with a kitchen and living area and a second outdoor deck; the lower floor has the house’s other three bedrooms and a family space.
The nest is oriented to the southwest, looking toward San Francisco, while the main part of the house faces directly south. Underneath and adjacent to the nest is the yard that Leverette said is unusually large for a lot of just over an eighth of an acre on a fairly steep slope.
“It creates a really interesting space below where you’re kind of protected by the nest,” he said.
The house also has a number of energy efficiency tools such as solar panels on the main roof, a green roof over the nest, and an option for the buyer to add two whole-home batteries in the garage. The house’s electrical system is also wired to receive backup power from a car battery, a technology Leverette expects to be available in the near future.
The house has been on the market for slightly longer than the average for a home for sale in this part of Berkeley, a fact Leverette attributes to the unique design.
“It’s just going to take a little time for the right person to come along who likes this style,” he said.