Inspired Design

The Hills of Tuscany Inspire Sorrento Design

by Julie Smith Taylor, Taylor PR

 

The architectural design team behind the Sorrento project at Dublin Ranch, Calif., enjoyed a couple of unique opportunities when they sat down to create a multi-family housing development back in 2005.  First, they had a generous amount of acreage to work with, and secondly, the land was anything but flat with approximately 55” from its high point to low point.

         “Because of the unique characteristics and topography of the site, we knew we had an opportunity to do something really special,” said Chris Texter, AIA and principal of KTGY Group, Inc. an architectural firm in Irvine, Calif.  

         “We were inspired by the unique hilltop towns and villages found in Italy,” explains Texter.  “We drew ideas from different regions, so each of the five communities that make up the project is unique in its own way with different architectural styles and floor plans, yet they all tie together by common architectural elements.  There is an extensive use of Eldorado Stone featured in combination with plaster walls and tile roofs, materials that are considered native to the area that help create an authentic experience for the residents of Sorrento.”

         Texter and his team worked closely with Toll Brothers, Inc. the builders behind this picturesque Italian village inspired community.  The company has built a reputation of building homes that are specifically designed to harmonize with the scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape and this project was no exception.

         The development features 418 units with a two-acre park, pools, fitness center, and a beautiful recreation center with nearby shopping and schools.  The design included a variety of condominiums, town-homes, and single-family homes available in different floor plans and sizes to appeal to consumers of all ages and economic levels that help create an authentic, village-like atmosphere.  The five communities include Milano, Trevi, Firenze, Siena, and Amalfi, each with their own distinct architectural style and design.  

         Taking the Italian village theme even further, the architects purposely positioned the distinctive recreation center with its high tower and stone archways at the heart of the community with convenient pathways or pallagios, leading to it from each of the five “villages.”  A generous use of centralized open spaces and Mediterranean landscape features help reinforce the theme even further.  Cobblestone roundabouts, tree-lined streets, fountains, and even a stone bridge with antique lamp posts are evocative of old world living.

         According to Chuck Templeton, division vice president of Toll Brothers, one of the nice planning features of the project is that the majority of the change in topography has been taken up in the buildings.  This has created extra space in some of the homes’ garages and it greatly reduces the amount of retaining walls needed on the site.

         “To date, more than 135 units have sold with 100 units closed,” says Templeton.  “We believe several factors have influenced the success of the project.  One is the proximity to San Francisco and easy access to the city’s BART transit system.  Secondly, the amenities that come along with a well designed community like this make it even more appealing to a wide variety of age groups who are looking for convenience and services.”  Templeton also says that families find the affordability of a town-home or a mid-size unattached home like those found in Sorrento a real plus in today’s market without having to sacrifice architectural style or features.

         Carolyn White, a colorist at Toll Brothers says she selected Eldorado Stone for this project because of her long-standing relationship with the company.  “Eldorado offers affordability, convenient availability of products, and such a wide selection of profiles from which to choose, that there was no question we would use Eldorado,” she says.  “We were able to create the look we wanted with each village by using a variety of stone blends that gave us the authentic feel we desired.  We’re extremely pleased with the results and know that the residents of Sorrento appreciate the warmth and texture that stone brings to their new home’s design.”

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