The Radius House
- Mill Valley
Some homes are built. Others are born. 881 Lovell Avenue is one of the rare few with a soul, a story, and a place in Mill Valley’s architectural history.
Built in 1960 by architect Daniel Liebermann, an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, the home embodies the ingenuity of midcentury organic design. With its curved walls, soaring timber ceiling radiating from a sculptural steel column, and walls of glass that welcome in the forest light, the home feels far larger than its footprint suggests. Every detail, from the salvaged Douglas fir beams to the hand-laid brick and stone fireplace, speaks to Liebermann’s early vision of sustainable, site-sensitive architecture.
This was Liebermann’s own home, where he and his family lived until 1966. His daughter, who grew up here, went on to become an architect and professor herself—fitting testament to the home’s creative spirit. Over the decades, the property has been celebrated in books and design magazines, further establishing its provenance.
Between 2005–2009, the residence was restored and modernized in close consultation with Liebermann. Great care was taken to honor his original design while adding comfort and livability: a private screening room, a detached bedroom suite that appears to float among the trees, and an outdoor kitchen with pizza oven and stone patio for entertaining. Clerestory windows and reclaimed airplane glass bring light in from every angle, bathing the interiors in a soft glow that shifts with the seasons.
The setting is equally rare. One sunny, buildable acre in Cascade Canyon provides a unique microclimate, warmer and brighter than much of Mill Valley, while still enjoying the cool shelter of surrounding redwoods. In the rainy season, the sound of Cascade Falls drifts through the trees, adding a natural soundtrack to this magical retreat.
Blending natural materials, timeless design, and a deep connection to the land it was built to honor, this home is a true sanctuary.
881 Lovell Avenue is more than a residence. It is a generational opportunity: a union of architecture, history, and nature that simply cannot be replicated today.
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