Small House in an Olive Grove

Project Details

Project Name
Small House in an Olive Grove
Project Types
Custom
Project Scope
New Construction
Shared By
rbarron
Project Status
Built
Year Completed
2010
Style
Modern
Size
840 ft²
Room or Space

Project Description

Builder’s Choice and Custom Home Awards Finalist

The owners asked for an efficient, off-the-grid, house that would be one with their site. It is a “diamond in the rough,” a precisely detailed modern structure on a rustic, agricultural farm.

The 850 square-foot structure is anchored to the steep hillside with a series of retaining walls and cascading exterior decks, each linked to an interior space. This act of at once embracing the hillside and relating inside and outside at every level is an ambitious concept for such a small house, and is also minimally intrusive to the natural topography. The circulation is directed to the views while the fenestration protects from the hot southern sun in favor of soft northern light.

The exterior is predominantly light-grey zinc expressed in horizontal panels with articulated reveals. Stained grey redwood is used for the sun screens, providing a unified and textured facade.

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