Early massing / concept form
Overlooking a scenic valley in Sonoma County lies a 13-acre undeveloped, wooded property atop a steep hill outside of Healdsburg, CA. This is the setting for a new off-grid, fire-resistant house. Characterized by five ‘chimneys’, this house is tucked into and atop a hill, fostering expansive views of the vineyard valley below surrounding forest. A deep porch with long stone planks promotes an indoor-outdoor lifestyle as it wraps both around and through the house. At different points, and in particular at its corners, the house appears more like a ‘carved’ solid -as if cut form from a single block; yet the house can simultaneously be seen as an assembly of discernable architectural elements such as roof, eave, column, or wall. This oscillation between appearing like a carved solid and an assembly of elements is unified by a pattern of thin battens, which also disclose the underlying construction of conventional wood framing. The interior is a series of open rooms and small nooks all organized to capture views of the surrounding landscape as you move through and occupy the house. A covered breezeway separates the main house from a semi-detached guest room and home office on the south side while on the northwestern side the ground slopes down to a walkout basement game room and wine cellar.
Located in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fire zone, this house uses fire mitigation strategies in its materials, material assemblies, site design, and ventilation as an off-grid house with passive colling strategies and radiant heating.
This project further includes site improvements such as septic, driveway, drainage, and encroachment permits.
Project Team
Architect: Endemic Architecture
Structural Engineer: Hewitt Consulting Group
General Contractor: Sawyer Construction
Custom Cabinetry & Millwork: Greg Schreier
Landscape Architect: Monica Perrone Landscape
Civil, Survey, & Septic Engineer: Huffman Engineering
Septic Installer: Machado Brothers
Geotechnical: Miller Pacific Engineering
Expected Construction: Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 (Currently in Permitting)