SEES House

Sonoma County, CA, United States

Add To Collection

Featured products in this project 1

Zola Thermo Clad Windows & Doors

Other Projects by Atmosphere Design Build

Add To Collection

CASK House

SEES House

Sonoma County, CA, United States

Firm

Atmosphere Design Build

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2015

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

Undisclosed

Integration, longevity, strength, sustainability – was the brief given for this super energy efficient home that was design and built for a hard working equine veterinarian who plans to spend years developing the landscape around his home. Located above the renowned Sonoma wine county, the house design takes cues from the surrounding topography. Set into the slope of the ridge, the building “steps down” becoming part of the hill side. A “pise” wall (shot earth and concrete mixture which has a rich earthy texture and hue) runs the length of the house – a continuation of the ridge spine. The shed-roofed volumes are oriented to mimic the slope of the ridge and designed to provide solar shading. The main living space opens to spectacular landscape to the south and west – it has sweeping views of golden rolling hills, city lights, and is a perch to watch coast weather roll in off the pacific. On the north side the building is carefully shaped, turning to meet the edge line of a mature forest, creating an intimate, protected, courtyard retreat.

Materiality and assembly where chosen to provide durability and protection on a site that gets significant coastal weather, that is remote, and at risk from California’s every growing wildfire danger. The house is constructed from ICF walls, pise, steel, and has a corten roof. The artisan plaster exterior, pise wall, along with the rusty red of the roof provide a muted but textured color palette that blends in with the landscape. Natural materials and handcrafted details, like the custom made Claro walnut doors are used throughout the home.

Passive heating and cooling strategies, a super insulated envelope paired with the thermal mass of the pise wall, along with triple pane European windows, air-sealing, and thermal bridge free details, make this house a high performance building. It has a back-up ductless mini split system for thermostat controlled heating and cooling, a mechanical ventilation system, and high efficacy lighting throughout.