Attachment 5 - Residential Design Guidelines, Sections 3.9 and 4.8.4Residential Design Guidelines 33
Town of Los Gatos BUILDING DESIGN3
3.8.3 Use traditional detailing
•Treat openings in walls as though they were constructed of
the traditional material for the style. For example, be sure to
provide substantial wall space above arches in stucco and
stone walls. Traditionally, wall space above the arch would
have been necessary to structurally span the opening, and
to make the space too small is inconsistent with the archi-
tectural style.
•Openings in walls faced with stone, real or synthetic, should
have defined lintels above the opening except in Mission or
Spanish Eclectic styles. Lintels may be stone, brick or wood
as suits the style of the house.
•Treat synthetic materials as though they were authentic.
For example, select synthetic stone patterns that place the
individual stones in a horizontal plane as they would have
been in a load bearing masonry wall.
•Select roof materials that are consistent with the traditional
architectural style (e.g., avoid concrete roof tiles on a Crafts-
man Style house.)
3.8.4 Materials changes
•Make materials and color changes at inside corners rather
than outside corners to avoid a pasted on look.
3.9 ADDITIONS/ACCESSORY BUILDINGS/SECONDARY
UNITS
•Site additions in the least conspicuous place. In many cases
this is a rear or side elevation - only rarely is it a rooftop.
•The existing built forms, components and materials should
be reinforced. Heights and proportions of additions and
alterations should be consistent with and continue the
original architectural style and design.
•Additions should be subordinate, and compatible in scale
and proportion to the historically significant portions of
the existing structure.
•When an addition or remodel requires the use of newly
constructed exterior elements, they should be identical in
size, dimension, shape and location as the original, and
Use stone or wood lintels over
openings in stone walls
Additions, accessory buildings and secondary
units should match the form, architectural
style, and details of the original house
ATTACHMENT 5
Residential Design Guidelines34
Town of Los Gatos
BUILDING DESIGN3
should utilize the same materials as the existing protected
exterior elements.
• When an addition necessitates the removal of architectural
materials, such as siding, windows, doors, and decorative
elements, they should be carefully removed and reused in
the addition where possible.
• The introduction of window and door openings not char-
acteristic in proportion, scale, or style with the original
architecture is strongly discouraged (e.g., sliding windows or
doors in a structure characterized by double hung windows
and swinging doors).
• The character of any addition or alteration should be in
keeping with and subordinate to the integrity of the original
structure.
• The amount of foundation exposed on the addition should
match that of the original building.
• Do not add roof top additions where the roof is of historic
significance.
• Second floor additions are discouraged in neighborhoods
with largely one story homes. If horizontal expansion of
the house is not possible, consider incorporating a second
floor addition within the roof form as shown in the example
to the left.
• Second floor additions which are not embedded within the
roof form should be located to the rear of the structure.
• The height and proportion of an addition or a second story
should not dominate the original structure.
• Deck additions should be placed to the rear of the struc-
ture only, and should be subordinate in terms of scale and
detailing.
• New outbuildings, such as garages, should be clearly subor-
dinate to the main structure in massing, and should utilize
forms, materials and details which are similar to the main
structure.
• Garages should generally be located to the rear of the lot
behind the rear wall of the residence. One car wide access
driveways should be utilized.
Original structure
Addition incorporated into the roof
successfully adds space while respecting the
integrity of the existing house and the scale of
the neighborhood
Placing a two story addition to the rear can minimize its impact on the historic resource and the scale of the neighborhood
Residential Design Guidelines48
Town of Los Gatos
HISTORIC RESOURCES4
• New materials should identically match original materials
in shape, size, dimension, texture and pattern. Metal used
as flashing, screening, gutters, and utility services and other
traditional elements are acceptable.
• Composite, synthetic, metal, vinyl, plastic or fabricated/
imitation wood products, painted brick or imitation used
brick will generally not be approved. However, some ex-
ceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis when the
decision making body determines that the replacement is
consistent with the appearance of the original material, and
that a lay person would be unlikely to discern the difference.
The burden of proof will reside with the applicant. Mate-
rial samples, photographs and specific locations where the
material may be seen in use will all assist in the evaluation
of alternative materials.
• The decision making body may approve an acceptable alter-
native to the original building material if use of the original
material is not feasible due to unreasonable cost and com-
mercial availability, or health and safety considerations.
4.8.3 Doors
• Original doors should be retained and restored.
• New replacement doors for Victorians should not be flush,
but of raised or flat panel design.
• Front doors generally should be painted, not stained.
Not applicable to Mission Revival/Mediterranean style structures.
• Screened doors should be real wood framed of simple de-
sign unless patterns can be shown to fit the existing style.
4.8.4 Windows and Glass in doors
• Original windows, glass and window decorations should be
retained and restored.
• Replacement of only the deteriorated portions of the win-
dows is recommended rather than the replacement of the
entire window.
• New or replacement windows should be wood-sashed and
muntined if applicable.
• Sills, lintels, frames, sashes, muntins, and all decorations
should be identically replaced.
• All elements of new windows should be identical in size,
shape, proportion, and dimensions as the original windows
of the building, or consistent with traditional sizes, propor-
tions and dimensions of buildings of the same architectural
style, design and era.
• Windows should be constructed of real glass, and window
Simulated divided lite windows may be considered on a case-by-case basis
True divided lite windows are encouraged when appropriate to the original structure
Original doors and windows should be
retained and repaired
Residential Design Guidelines 49
Town of Los Gatos HISTORIC RESOURCES4
frames should be constructed of real wood - not vinyl,
metal or plastic. Wood sashes may be vinyl or metal clad if
the window frame and dressing is designed consistent with
the historic context of the building.
• All lites (panes of glass) should be true divided lite, not
artificial or snap-in grids. Simulated Divided Lite windows
are permitted when the details of the window provide
projecting muntin elements on the exterior and interior of
the window along with a spacer muntin between the panes
of glass (See example to the left).
• New arched, angled, and/or octagonal windows are discour-
aged.
• Large expanses of blank exterior walls without windows
are discouraged.
4.8.5 Bay Windows
• Size, shape, proportion, dimension, type of foundation, and,
roof material and style of bay windows, whether restored
or of new construction, should be identical to the original
or existing bay windows of the structure.
• New bay windows may be added to the building in loca-
tions where no bay windows previously existed. These new
bay windows should be identical to and replicate the style,
design, size, shape and proportion, type of foundation and
roof of other bay windows existing on structure. If there are
no existing bay windows on the structure, new bay windows
should be built in the same size, shape, dimension, propor-
tions, material and type of foundation and roof typical of
the architectural style. Metal frame kitchen garden windows
are prohibited.
• Generally, traditional architectural styles will require either a
foundation to the ground or substantial supporting brackets
below a bay window. Floating windows without support, as
shown for the bow bay window example to the right, are
rarely appropriate.
• New bay windows are permitted only when the applicant
proves to the Deciding Body that they are consistent with
existing style, design and character of the structure.
4.8.6 Chimneys
• Wood-framed chimneys are prohibited unless their exteri-
ors are covered with brick or river rock veneers. Masonry
veneers may be used. However, they should be detailed
exactly as the solid construction that they are emulating.
• Stucco Mission Revival or Mediterranean style houses may
have stucco covered chimneys.
Match bay windows to the architectural style
of the house
Some window styles, such as this bow bay window, would have very limited applicability for use on a historic resource structure
Wood clad chimneys are prohibited
Masonry and stucco chimneys are
preferred