Vineyard House | Arthouse Architects

Designed for a growing family on the site of an old vineyard, the clients wanted a house that took in the views over the vines to the hills beyond while providing a warm, modern solution.

Sited back from the road, toward the edge of a bank, we designed a simple, sculptured form with the bedroom end cranked toward the morning sun and the living toward the afternoon sun.

The private entry zone frames the view and doubles as a space for the day bed to pause and reflect. The living end dissolves into a sheltered courtyard and separate, disjointed reading/tv room. Responding to the winter sun, the upwards faceted roof line adds a dynamic aesthetic to the active end of the house. The roof line extends over the deck, tapering down to a fine edge and referencing the line of deck below. This defines the transitional space between inside and out.

Wrapped in dark stained cedar and exposed precast concrete panels, the house is recessed into the surrounding environment. The back of the house, and the most public side, responds to the client’s desire for privacy. This desire for privacy is heightened by the compression and concealment of the front door.

From the concrete and oak dressed kitchen there are views to the outside through the living and dining space. The lower oak ceiling differentiates the kitchen zone from the raking line of the ceiling beyond.

Naturally oriented to make the most of the sun, the concrete floors and walls provide good thermal mass, absorbing heat from the sun in winter and releasing it at night when the temperature cools. In summer, the same thermal mass absorbs ambient air heat when shaded from the sun. High level operable windows in the living space and well positioned doors and windows allow natural cross ventilation.

The large eaves provide ample sun control in the summer to prevent the interior from overheating. The integration of a set-in pergola and large roof to the west also aid solar control in the afternoon. A solid wall to the west of the TV/reading room insulates this space from overheating.