Windsor, California

Site size: 20 acres

Project size: 4,986 square feet

Program: A new residence on a working vineyard takes advantage of a magnificent country site and allows the owners to have greater involvement in the winemaking process.

Location: A gently sloping knoll surrounded by 20 acres of vineyards for pinot noir grapes.

Solution: The architects designed the rectilinear house with a double-height living-dining area overlooked by the family room on the mezzanine-like second level. A relatively opaque and private entry courtyard on the north side contrasts with the fully glazed south side, which includes large sliding doors that open onto a swimming pool terrace overlooking the vineyards. A floating roof with a deep overhang spans the main house and a glass-walled guesthouse, creating a protected outdoor kitchen and dining terrace with pool and vineyard views.

Construction and materials: The exterior cladding materials for the steel and wood frame house were selected for their low maintenance: Windsor and St. Tropez limestone and white cement plaster. Window systems vary and are strategically placed to allow natural light to penetrate the house. Custom wood privacy screens on the north side double as shading devices. The interiors are dominated by fumed and whitewashed white oak.

Architect:
Swatt | Miers Architects
5845 Doyle Street, Suite 104
Emeryville, CA 94608-2534
TEL: (510) 985-9779
http://www.swattmiers.com

People

Architect:
Swatt | Miers Architects
5845 Doyle Street, Suite 104
Emeryville, CA 94608-2534
Phone: (510)985-9779
Fax: (510)985-0116

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
Principal in Charge: Robert Swatt, FAIA
Project Team: Julie Liberman, AIA; Audrey Hitchcock, RIBA

Interior designer:
Connie Wong

Engineers:
Structural Engineer:
Yu Structural Engineers

Civil Engineer:
Oberkamper & Associates

Geotechnical Engineer:
PJC & Associates

Consultant(s):
Landscape:
Bernard Trainor and Associates

Lighting:
Audio Visions lighting control

General contractor:
Jamba Construction

Photographer(s):
Russell Abraham
650-923-2133

  

Products

Structural system
Steel and wood framing over slab on grade

Exterior cladding
Masonry:
Maidenstone Windsor Select Limestone

Metal Panels:
Alucobond

Metal/glass curtain wall:
Custom

Wood:
Mahogany, stained to match fumed oak.

EIFS, ACM, or other:
Integral color cement plaster

Moisture barrier:
Jumbo Tex 60

Roofing
Elastomeric:
PVC with gravel ballast

Windows
Wood frame:
Custom

Metal frame:
Custom steel, anodized aluminum Fleetwood Windows & Doors

Glazing
Glass:
Custom, Guardian Low-E film

Skylights:
Royalite custom

Doors
Entrances:
Custom Mahogany

Wood doors:
Custom

Sliding doors:
Anodized aluminum Fleetwood Windows & Doors, custom frameless

Upswinging doors, other:
Overhead Door Co. garage door

Hardware
Locksets:
Omnia

Interior finishes
Cabinetwork and custom woodwork:
Whitewash and fumed white oak

Paints and stains:
Benjamin Moore

Paneling:
Custom fumed oak

Plastic laminate:
Pionite

Solid surfacing:
Corian, Euro Stone

Floor and wall tile:
Porcelanosa, Stonepeak, LEA Ceramiche bathroom tiles, St. Tropez Limestone on main level floor and pool terrace.

Lighting
Downlights:
Halo, Lightolier

Task lighting:
Artemide

Exterior:
Lucifer Lighting, B-K Lighting, Hinkley Lighting

Dimming System or other lighting controls:
Savant

Plumbing
Dornbracht, TOTO, Duravit