Structure studio AGD has created a hillside dwelling in California for 2 industrial designers that includes fireproofing methods reminiscent of fibre-cement siding and a metallic structural system.
The two,330-square-foot (216-square-metre) dwelling consists of a important residence and a separate storage and studio constructing.
The Waterfall Residence is positioned on a hillside property studded with mature oak timber. It lies simply south of Carmel Valley, a scenic space in Monterey County recognized for its farms and vineyards.
The homeowners are two industrial designers — Rick Lewis and Linda Menser-Lewis, founders of seven02design — who previously lived in Palo Alto.
The undertaking got here with a number of challenges. The location was tough because of its slope, which made typical development unfeasible, and the world is threatened by wildfire.
“The Carmel Valley space is liable to wildfire, and the design of the house was intentional to maximise the hearth resistance of the house,” mentioned AGD, or Andrew Goodwin Designs, which is predicated within the coastal metropolis of San Luis Obispo.
To handle the slope and to attenuate disturbance to the oak timber, the group lifted a part of the home above the bottom utilizing a prefabricated system from Blue Sky Constructing Techniques.
To spice up the house’s probability of putting up with a wildfire, the group used metal for the structural body and exterior decking. Vegetation across the dwelling that would simply catch fireplace was cleared away.
Shed roofs are lined with standing-seam metallic, and facades are clad with James Hardie fibre-cement siding.
The undertaking’s identify, Waterfall Residence, stems from an angled wall within the rear that funnels rainwater to a pair of two,000-gallon tanks.
“This rear wall captures rainwater runoff from the roof and directs it to storage tanks below the construction of the house,” the group mentioned. “These tanks assist fireplace suppression and panorama irrigation wants.”
Ample glazing, together with clerestories, usher in pure gentle and supply a connection to the panorama.
“The home was designed to savor the fantastic thing about the area whereas mixing indoor and outside dwelling,” the group mentioned.
The primary dwelling, which is 1,430 sq. ft (133 sq. metres), accommodates two bedrooms, two loos and an open-concept area for lounging, eating and cooking.
A breezeway connects to the 900-square-foot (84-square-foot) companion constructing, which holds an workplace/studio and two-car storage.
Inside finishes embody white partitions, concrete flooring and wood cabinetry. A lot of the decor and home equipment got here from the proprietor’s assortment of mid-century and up to date items.
The residence has numerous sustainable options and was designed with off-grid dwelling in thoughts.
By way of vitality, many of the dwelling’s electrical energy wants are met by a 6.5-kWh photo voltaic array. Whereas the home has a number of ductless mini splits, heating and cooling are largely supplied by means of passive measures.
Throughout the winter months, a concrete ground captures the solar’s warmth through the day, serving to heat the inside. In the summertime, a raised ground slab permits cool air to be caught below the house through the night time.
“This then gently comes by means of the ground insulation and structural metal to radiate cool temperatures,” the group mentioned.
The group additionally used renewable and recycled supplies. As an example, the columns and beams have a excessive share of recycled metal content material.
Different tasks within the Carmel Valley area embody a spacious residence by Sagan Piechota Structure that blends with the pure terrain and a home by Feldman Structure that consists of three pavilions topped with V-shaped roofs.
The images is by David LaLush.
