Meadow Vista House
Meadow Vista, CaliforniaStepping away from an urban environment back into a more natural setting for a simpler life, is the goal for our clients who will live in the Meadow Vista house in the Sierra foothills. But a rustic cabin was not in the cards for this couple who both love and appreciate modern architecture. In the design, we were able to take advantage of our clients' stylistic tendencies of modern design to create a home that will fit comfortably within its surrounding of native oaks and pine trees. The two-story home will be nestled into the sloping terrain with visitors descending on a series of pathways to the front door.
The building's square form becomes an L-shaped plan by virtue of one square of space being carved away to create an outdoor gathering space. Due to the privacy of the site and the orientation of the building, this gathering space occurs in the "front yard", setting the tone for visitors that this is a home to relax within. The entry foyer to the home is actually outdoor space protected by the overhang of the second story and a wall that drops from above, but floats over the entry floor blurring the distinction between indoor and outdoor space.
The 1,900 SF home's program is simple with the public gathering spaces on the ground floor and 3 bedrooms and two baths on the second floor. Because the home will be modest in size and efficiently laid out, special details can occur throughout. A private desk area is tucked beneath and cantilevered from the stairs. The Doug fir stair tread supports mounted on two opposing walls create a strong visual pattern of wood like a piece of art. On the second floor, the master tub is hidden behind a partially opened wall housing the sinks, and a lookout deck will be accessed from the master bedroom for commanding views down the hillside. A roof spout at the corner of the master bedroom will shoot a stream of water down to a bed of polished stones below which conceal a water retention tank.
In keeping with the modern aesthetic, our material palette is limited but sophisticated. Anodized aluminum windows, combined with smooth plaster walls in gray and taupe, aluminum trim, and horizontal wood siding will make up the exterior of the building. The interior of the home will reference these same materials and natural colors to create an understated soothing environment. Splashes of accent colors will be interjected to add playfulness to the design and to reflect the easygoing nature of our clients. While the home remains modern in its style, the touches of wood, muted tones, and casual atmosphere will create our interpretation of a twenty-first century cabin for our clients to live comfortably in the woods.
Construction to commence Summer 2008