Villa Lauriston

Villa Lauriston

Portola Valley, California

Nestled

on

approximately

the

protected

deep

28.4

a mong

acres

soaring

that

Mid-Peninsula

are

Open

VillaLauriston

is

redwoods,

surrounded

Space

both

by

District,

entirely

secluded and convenient to the best services in the San

Francisco Bay Area. The estate is reached by means of a

two-and-a-half mile private drive that lies just inside the

boundaries of the small town of Portola Valley, California.

approach

The Villa is approached from Alpine Road by way

of a private road. After passing through the first

gates, one encounters the stone bridge spanning

Corte Madera Creek. From the bridge to the vil-

la is a trip of 2. 3 miles and a climb of 700 feet to

an altitude of 1,350 feet above San Francisco Bay.

The drive winds through meadows and forests of

redwood, pine, oak, buckeye, and madrone. At the

end of the private

in

its

excess

of

one

spectacular

r oad,

acre,

the

comes

dolphin

e xpansive

into

fountain

l awn,

view

with

at

the

center. Two massive river gods watch over the

lawn from reclining positions under some of the Villa’s

spectacular cedars. Looping past this lawn

area and passing the reflecting pool, one

arrives at a carved stone wellhead at the

foot of the granite steps leading to Villa

Lauriston. On either side of the entry are mounted large

bronze lanterns

that were cast by Domain in Paris.

One of the nation’s finest private residences, the hand-crafted

Villa Lauriston

is incomparable and unique. Commis-

sioned in the 1920’s, this 20 room Florentine Villa features the finest

historic materials and artifacts from San Francisco mansions and Eu-

ropean palaces and churches. This architectural jewel is set in a pri-

vate 28.4 acre park-like parcel, surrounded by 1,000 acres dedicated as

open space lands in perpetuity. Villa Lauriston is located in the heart

of Silicon Valley, and the region’s major airports, the San Francisco

International airport and San Jose International airport are only

35 minutes away. Modern conveniences have been blended with the

romantic finishes and furnishings from the past to create an envi-

ronment that is elegant enough for entertaining dignitaries, yet

comfortable and conducive to gatherings of family and friends.

Positioned at an elevation of 1,350 feet, and graced with stunning eastward views, the Villa overlooks the San Francisco Bay, Stanford University, and Silicon Valley, one of the most innovative and powerful business and research communities in the world.

Welcome

The Lauriston estate lies within the

boundaries of the town of Portola

Valley. Portola Valley’s school district

boasts two award-winning public schools. In addition,

some of the nation’s premier private schools are only min-

utes’ drive away, in nearby Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Por-

tola Valley itself. Stanford University and its nationally

recognized research hospital lie close by, as do San Jose

State University, Santa Clara University (www.scu.edu) and

numerous other colleges, universities and research cen-

ters. The campuses of the University of California at Berke-

ley and the University of California at Santa Cruz, among

others, are within easy driving distance from the Villa

Photos by: Norio Sugano, Chris Schmauch, Mark Pinkerton

I

Design by: Joelle Cruz