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The “Diamond Home.” Photo by David Sanders Eternal Visuals, courtesy Windy City Builders + Acadia-Architecture.

From sprawling walls of glass to airy open layouts, the 2026 Silicon Valley Modern Home Tour offers a rare chance to get an insider’s look at some of the best examples of modern architecture on the Peninsula.

Hosted by the Modern Architecture + Design Society, the self-guided tour gives the public an opportunity to visit and explore five private modern residences, as well as talk with the architects, designers and builders who had a part in creating the homes.  This year’s tour includes homes in Atherton, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos and San Jose.

Here’s a look at some of the homes on the tour:

‘Five Palms’

Designed by architect Curt Cline, this Peninsula home known as “Five Palms” was conceived around the idea of comfortable California family living. Organized into two wings, the five-bedroom residence balances large communal gathering areas with quieter private spaces. A later addition introduced a detached guesthouse and pool composition known as the “Flying V.”

The home recently underwent a major interior redesign by Sophie Goineau Design Studio, which introduced warm woods, terrazzo, lime finishes and custom-built details throughout.

Hawaiian-inspired ‘wellness’ house

This nearly 9,000-square-foot Peninsula home by M.Designs Architects draws inspiration from Hawaii’s coastal resorts, with flowing indoor-outdoor spaces, a spa and a pool with a clear acrylic wall (reminiscent of an aquarium) that looks into the family room on the basement level.  Built in 2026, the two-story, six-bedroom home emphasizes wellness. Its design features clean lines, openness, lots of  light-filled spaces and a strong connection to its surroundings. 

The Ashbury 330. Photo courtesy Wellmade Design-Build and SNM Architecture.

The Ashbury 330

Just like others on the tour, this Peninsula home features natural materials, sleek lines, indoor-outdoor spaces and other hallmarks typical of modern design – but on a smaller scale. Designed by Wellmade Design-Build and SNM Architecture, the 330-square-foot, one-bedroom backyard cottage highlights how compact living spaces can still feel warm and functional.

2026 Silicon Valley Modern Home Tour

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Date: Saturday, May 16
Place: Neighborhoods from Atherton to San Jose
Cost:  $23.18
Tickets and more information

Measuring just 14 feet by 26 feet, the home is one of Wellmade’s standard prefabricated models. The design is simple and clean, with a gable roof that fits the neighborhood and includes usable loft space. The finishes are similar to a full custom home, including Oak hardwood floors, ceramic tile bathroom, Bosch appliances, skylights and more.

The home is built from prefabricated panels small enough to be hand-carried to job sites, which the company says improves efficiency and reduces waste.

The ‘Diamond Home’

Known as the Diamond Home, this residence by Windy City Builders and Acadia Architecture blends modern design with advanced technology and sustainability systems. The home features Tesla solar roof tiles, extensive smart-home automation and integrated environmental systems designed to improve air quality, sound quality and hot water efficiency. 

The exterior uses San Francisco sparkle concrete, leading to an iron beam entry awning and pivot door; an angular roofline with clean, modern lines integrates the solar system.  neighborhood presence.

Inside, linear LED lighting embedded in the ceilings throughout the home create a futuristic look. The glass-and-metal staircase serves as a central design feature, while large Fleetwood sliders connect interior living spaces to the outdoors.

Downstairs, portions of glass from the original structure by midcentury modern builder John MacKay were retained, maintaining a visual link to the home’s past.

Builders will be on site during the tour to demonstrate how the integrated systems work.  

Organizers say the event is designed for both architecture enthusiasts and homeowners seeking inspiration for future remodels or custom builds.

The 2026 Silicon Valley Modern Home Tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 16. A tour map with home addresses will be emailed to ticket holders 48 hours in advance of the event. .Tickets and more information.

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Linda Taaffe is the Real Estate editor for Embarcadero Media.

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