The design intent was to create a contemporary residence that respects and maintains the historical elements of the space – a series of landmarked buildings that formerly housed a winery and stable. The neutral color palette and decidedly defining material choices lend to the contemporary feel of the house, while the furniture and décor is reminiscent of a rustic, yet cozy farmhouse. The house is in a constant dialogue with its surroundings, connecting the interior and exterior.
The main house consists of three residential buildings, each three stories high, which have been joined together. The two buildings on the extremities have been completely excavated,resulting in the opening up the ceiling heights to a majestic forty feet. The public spaces of the residence are located on the ground floor, with the living room and kitchen in the western-most part of the house. The dining room and a cozy sitting nook in the center house and a dedicated entrance in the easternmost house. The center house also holds the master bedroom suite on the first floor, above which, on the second floor, is the first guest suite.
The living room features exposed wooden beams and large windows overlooking the garden. Off of the living room, the kitchen lies under a mezzanine, which serves as a study. This volume, made completely out of American walnut, offers an element of warmth to to contrast the forty foot ceiling height and polished concrete walls and floors of the living room. A vaulted, cellar-like space holds the dining area in the adjacent house. The foyer in the next building is generous and features artwork, with a free- standing tower in the center.
A staircase in the foyer house gains access to the second and third floors of the center house. The tower in the foyer and the chimney in the living room are complimentary volumes designed to accentuate the beautiful and massive ceiling height, with each tower extending from the ground floor up to the 40’ ceiling.