Ridge House
Set lightly on the edge of a natural ridge in the Sonoma hills, the home is designed to integrate with the surrounding site. Weaving in and around existing oak trees, the house forms to the ridge’s sloping topography.
Given the beauty of the site, integrating indoor and outdoor spaces was a key component of our design process. Oriented along a central axis facing San Francisco, the structure gently steps down the edge of the ridge to provide expansive views. The main bedrooms flank the home’s central hallway that functions both as a key design component and a gallery space leading to the great room. Large sliding glass doors open to a spacious outdoor patio and pool surrounded by panoramic views of Sonoma Valley. The pool’s vanishing edge extends the site towards the San Francisco skyline.
A mix of oak trees, olives and maples provide shade and privacy at various areas of the house. We replaced every tree removed during construction. Solar panels contribute to our thoughtful integration with the site by providing all the home’s yearly electricity usage. Blending architecture and landscape enabled us to maximize views effectively and minimize our impact on the site, all while capturing its natural beauty.
Design Challenge
The design for the Ridge House was directly inspired by the site. Our clients were looking for a home that captured the beauty of Sonoma Valley. Set on a natural ridge high up in the hills, the sloping site provides incredible panoramic views. The home’s architecture mirrors the site’s sloping topography, with bedrooms flanking the central axis along the ridge. Set lightly on the edge the home steps down along the sloping site extending to face the views of Sonoma Valley and San Francisco skyline. This design approach allowed us to capture the beauty of Sonoma Valley and create a space that integrates harmoniously with its surroundings, fulfilling our client’s vision for their home.
Physical Context
When designing the Ridge House we made sure to carefully study the site. The design of the Ridge House aimed to preserve the site’s natural beauty and minimize environmental impact.The home was designed to weave in and around existing oak trees and for every tree that was removed during construction a new one was planted.
A mix of oak trees, olives and maples provide shade and privacy at various areas of the house. The home’s landscaping utilizes native plants, that require minimal water and are drought tolerant. Matching the slope of the roof, solar panels are placed on 75% of the main wing positioned to maximize energy efficiency. These panels provide all the yearly electric usage for the house. Metal roofs and fire boards under wood siding ensure a high level of fire resistance.