Walnut House

The writer-client requested a warm, modern and livable home for all seasons with little to no maintenance. She requested a comfortable plan with unobstructed views but privacy from the street. Her program was for a single level, 2BR/ 3Bath home with a master suite, guest suite, and central home office that could be used as an additional bedroom on occasion. She also requested outdoor dining and garden terraces to be viewed and be accessible year-round. The primary goal was to take advantage of an established home-site while preserving large walnut and fir trees. The existing house was deconstructed and donated to Habitat for Humanity. The original drive and garage floor were retained as guest parking. The new house and terraces occupy the area of the former house site with primary views to the east and south. At the center is a semi-covered outdoor dining terrace leading to a lower sculpture garden and fountain and further to the lower landscape and orchards. A concrete wall with fireplace and built-ins separate the open main living, dining and entertaining areas from the guest suite and parking. This wall also helps to support the large steel framed roof and cantilevered deck. Materials for the house were chosen based on their low-maintenance: galvanized metal siding, insulated aluminum curtain-wall windows, exposed interior/ exterior concrete walls, composite veneer wood panel siding and ceiling finishes, exposed steel framing at the roof and window walls. Some of the simple passive and sustainable features used in the design were: rainwater harvesting, solar hot water heating and storage, in-floor radiant heat, cork tile floors, natural day-lighting, expandable spray-on insulation, Individual room controlled HVAC, single-ply membrane roof and low voltage lighting.