Perched on 10 acres in the hills overlooking Napa Valley, this rural homestead was designed for a family of three seeking a peaceful life away from the city.

 After a wildfire destroyed the original mid-construction design, the family was determined to rebuild a modern, resilient home that embraced the agrarian vernacular of the father’s European roots. The clients are a mother who is transitioning away from her highly successful law career and towards her lifelong passion for farming, an entrepreneur father eagerly returning to the agrarian lifestyle of his rural childhood, and their adolescent son who thrives in pastoral settings.

The hilltop site is filled with oak trees and rock outcroppings with panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards and undulating terrain. The home is formed by a triad of structures inspired by the traditional clusters of farm buildings found throughout the area. Its gable roof references the agrarian vernacular of Napa Valley and the father’s childhood in the Welsh Countryside. 

The exterior palette is composed of concrete and steel, both of which are inherently fire-resistant materials. Finely crafted, board-formed concrete makes up the building’s stout base and the majority of its walls. The standing seam metal, gabled roofs shed rainwater and deflect potential sparks blown in from distant fires. 

The interior’s meticulously crafted oak cabinets, ceilings, and floors complement the concrete and steel structure. A taught, minimalist approach to the interior details pervades the home with custom steel, stainless steel, and bronze cabinetry sprinkled throughout. Functioning as storage areas and as a delicate tertiary scale, this steel casework serves as complementary jewelry adorning the robust, industrial framework. Two large portals gracing the dining room’s east and west elevations open to create a cabana-like entertaining venue. Two steel cantilevered decks are direct extensions of the main living area. These verandas are clad in aluminum grating to mitigate the exterior’s flammability. 

Inside, the living room’s wrap-around glazing frames views of the adjacent vineyards. The three gabled structures each contain a family member’s study. In the main house, the top floor is designed as an open loft for the son to use as a study space. The wife’s office is a treehouse-like retreat accessed through a rooftop bridge. Located over the garage, the father’s office is treated as a glowing white prism. This triptych of environments provides secluded spaces, while the dining room, kitchen, and living room embrace the spirit of sharing.

 Complementing the main house on the farmstead are two structures. The first is a utilitarian Butler building clad in Corten steel. This workshop is located in the valley of the site, which opens to a vast fruit orchard. The second, leisure-focused formation is comprised of an infinity-edge pool, hot tub, and hidden pool house. All three south-facing components embrace panoramic views.