A calm, cool, and collected home in Sonoma County, California that gently follows the contours of the land with a series of flat planes, tall volumes, and a large central courtyard. The design promotes a simplified canvas for living, aiming to provide spaces for relaxation, inspiration, and conversation. The house avoids emphasizing the boundary between interior and exterior.
A reduced palette of locally sourced stone and soil aggregates is used for an in-situ concrete pour with rammed earth additions, and varieties of oak wood are deployed for accents and finishes. An architecture that takes advantage of a relatively stable, year-round climate, by using passive thermoregulatory techniques: high thermal mass materials, tall ceilings, operable glass facades, a central courtyard, and strategically placed water features to cool the cross-winds.
And yes, there is a subterranean wine cellar. With lots of wine.