project

The resulting compound consists of a main house, workshop and barn, surrounded by sweeping views of the wide-open valley and Mt. St. Helena.

The primary throughline in  the design of this 5,000–square-foot home is the concept of prospect and refuge, addressing the twin goals of capturing the vast views and providing shelter from the heat, wind and highly variable weather. Sited to provide protection from storms from the Northwest and address views of Mt. St. Helena to the East, the three buildings are arranged as a cohesive compound. The main house is itself divided into three structures set at right angles to one another to surround the rear pool terrace, protecting it from the elements.

The home’s three zones — a voluminous great room flanked by two bedroom wings —are connected by transparent glass corridors, liminal spaces that enhance the transparency of the house and draw the views deep into the interior. Designed in a contemporary rendition of traditional agricultural forms, the project’s refined palette of materials reflects the client’s minimalist approach and eye for detail. Contrasting with the dark forms of the workshop and barn, the main house is clad in a light Hardie board cementitious vertical siding from the Artisan series, which is both budget-friendly and fire-resistant. A20-foot cantilevered roof clad in aluminum shades the entry, and abroad overhang provides shade and drama on the rear elevation. The journey to the front entry reinforces the drama of the valley views with a sense of compression and release — a descending stair bounded by exposed concrete walls leads to a 90-degree turn to reveal the primary views of Mt. St. Helena through the front door. Inside, expansive windows frame awe-inspiring valley and mountain views at every turn. Artwork is kept to a minimum, allowing the surrounding natural environment to play the leading role.

In an unusual hybrid construction arrangement, the owner worked with Salt Shed Design Build to construct the core and shell, then with his own team to finish the project. Built on an already-developed site, the new compound replaces an existing structure with a collection of smaller structures, decreasing the amount of hardscape and deepening the project’s connection with the land.