MANZANITA HOUSE

Sonoma House is a second home for a San Francisco family, sited on a hillside in Sonoma County with expansive views across an open valley. The brief was clear: a peaceful retreat for weekends and summers, a place to arrive and exhale. The design response was equally clear — let the land lead.
 

A careful study of the topography determined everything. The structure runs parallel to the contours of the hill, stretching along its edge in a long, deliberate line that minimizes impact on the site while maximizing the connection to the landscape beyond. The uphill facade is buried into the hillside, nestling the home into the land visually and thermally, while a continuous band of high windows tracks the arc of the sun throughout the day. Each room in the sequence enjoys its own direct relationship to light and views, the valley unfolding across the full length of the house. A generous deck extends the living space into the landscape, holding a pool for warm Sonoma afternoons. Materials and detailing were selected with equal parts beauty and pragmatism: durability and ease of maintenance were non-negotiable, ensuring that weekends are spent gazing at the view rather than tending to the house. The architecture earns its keep by staying out of the way.
 

Location: Sonoma, California

Size: 3500 SF

Status: On the Boards