Ridgeview
Located on the site of a home lost in the wine country fires of 2017, this house is designed to capture the full potential of the site and views in a way that the previous home did not. Our client, who had owned the home for 15 years before it burned, wanted a house designed for his retirement, where he could welcome his children and grandchildren, connect to nature and celebrate the views. This property was originally his second home, but after the fires he retired, sold his primary home and built this new house as his full-time home.
Set on a 1.35-acre hillside site overlooking the Napa Valley, this unique property is set at the end of a cul-de-sac, bordered to the south by land donated to the Land Trust of Napa County. This conservation easement assures that the southerly views are permanently free of fences, neighbors or development, and on a clear day, Mt. Tamalpais is visible in the distance, two counties away. Although the house is positioned so that it enjoys magnificent views, existing trees render it virtually invisible from the valley below; conversely, no cars or roads are visible from the house.
The new 4,771-square-foot main house and 402-square-foot pool house, which replace what had been a 4,261-square-foot dwelling, are oriented to take advantage of the views of the sunsets to the west, the Napa Valley to the southwest and dedicated open space to the south with expanses of glass and shaded terraces, while solid walls on the northern facade shield views of neighboring houses to the north. A realigned arrival sequence replaces an approach that had previously landed visitors at the home’s lower level with their back to the view and a full flight of stairs to traverse, with new driveway that draws visitors along a long, linear wall set perpendicular to the view and around to the far side of the house. The final turn upon arrival reveals the view, dramatically heightening the sense of discovery. A central entry courtyard forms a protected interstitial space – a gentle transition from the outside world to the home’s inner sanctuary, with sweeping views that are not revealed until visitors step inside.
The cross-axial plan is straightforward, with the long axis set perpendicular to the slope and the short axis – defined by the distinctive butterfly roof – positioned to dramatically embrace the full scope of the views to the southwest. The slope of the hillside is an important element of the design solution: the butterfly roof echoes the slope, while half the house cantilevers out toward the view, minimizing the home’s overall footprint. Careful placement on the site maximizes the home’s energy efficiency through natural ventilation. Designed in zones, with public areas and master suite on the main level, and guest quarters for family members on the second level, this home is just as comfortable for its single occupant as it is for a crowd.
Design Challenge
The design of this home presented three primary challenges: accessibility, views and privacy, and resistance to fire in a fire-prone region.
Since the original residence was completely destroyed in the 2017 wine country fires, the new design offered the opportunity to correct several shortcomings of the site’s original home. Access to the original house was challenging, requiring 47 steps from vehicle parking to the main entry, which residents and visitors alike traversed with their backs to the views. Re-orienting the driveway to sweep around the home and terminate at the structure’s protected northern facade rectified the previously awkward, inaccessible entry, with a minimum of grading. A new entry through a protected private courtyard simultaneously creates a feeling of transition and sanctuary, and enables a dramatic reveal of the magnificent views that span from the west to the south.
The elements of the straightforward plan are arranged to balance privacy from neighboring houses to the north and openness to the views to the west and south. The solid walls of the garage and courtyard are set perpendicular to the slope and the primary living space, shielding views from the north, while broad expanses of glass and broad terraces are oriented to maximize the experience of the views to the west and south. The distinctive butterfly rooflines tilt upward to capture the full impact of the views.
This home sits at the edge of wildlands belonging to the Land Trust of Napa County, which are prone to fire. Given the location, and the history of fire on the site, fire resistance was a key driver for the design. In a design that is clean, contemporary and driven by function, plaster walls, glass, metal roofing and fire-resistant landscape effectively address fire risk. Physical Context
The site for this new home - a ground-up rebuild of a home lost to the Wine Country fires of 2017 - rests on the western slope of the Vaca Mountains, which define the eastern boundary of the Napa Valley. Set within the existing Silverado Country Club, the site is bordered by dozens of homes to the North built in prior decades when Mediterranean styles of architecture predominated in the valley. An important goal for the redesign was to minimize the impact of these northerly views. To the south, the site is bordered by land owned by the Land Trust of Napa County, which is preserved from development in perpetuity, with the happy result of guaranteed views of nature to the south. To the west lie expansive views of the valley below. Existing trees block views of the house from below, and the steep slope ensures that no roads are visible from the house or terraces. While the steep slope presented accessibility challenges, (successfully overcome with a re-oriented driveway and entry sequence), the site’s elevation ensures that the views go on for miles, extending on a clear day all the way to the peak of Mt. Tamalpais two counties away.
