Project Description
This way-off grid house is on a rugged 160 acres high above the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. After living on site for years in a series of tents, the owners were ready for a "real house", but one that captured the spirit and freedom of tent living.
Two offset pavilions comprise this compact house: one housing the main living space and master bedroom, and the other a guest room combined with outdoor kitchen. The pavilions flank the outdoor entry, leading to the terrace and pool.
Twin channel glass walls braced by steel tie rods appear from the approach drive, evoking the translucence and lightness of tents. Broad overhangs and rolling wood shade screens shelter the house from rain and summer heat.
Repeated PI-shaped steel frames were used as the primary structural elements, for ease of offsite fabrication and minimal waste. Douglas fir decking spanning over the frames is both structure and finished ceiling.
Too far from power grid access, all power for the house is produced on site, via an 8 kilowatt photovoltaic array with battery storage. The remoteness of this site, along with challenging pier foundation dictated by its geology, demanded a rigorously modular and compact design for the house.