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P R O F I L E | S O N O M A F A R M H O U S E
modern agrarian style house perfectly honors the owner's need
to have a place to recharge with beautiful surroundings.
"The design of the house wasn't about big architecture; it was
about placing the focus on the human experience," lead
designer Kyle Gaffney says.
This sanctuary can suit anywhere from one person alone to 50
people. The unique design emphasizes versatility and adaptability.
"The house doesn't have a front door," notes Gaffney. Indeed,
what guests first discover is an unlocked entry gate followed by
a path leading to the central dining terrace — with a community
table fabricated from reclaimed redwood. "It creates an atmo-
sphere of welcome; you're already invited in the moment you
pass the gate."
To provide cross ventilation and keep the house cool naturally,
the team of SkB decided to install operable walls on either of
the long sides while operable doors and the garage door are
located on the short ends.
Inside, the double-height living space and primary bedroom
bathed in natural light are separated by a double-sided fireplace
within a custom wardrobe clad in steel and walnut, providing
a high level of functionality. With the primary bath that flows
right into the main space, the connection between interior and
exterior is highlighted even more thanks to the outdoor shower.
Throughout, the durable and harmonious materials — which are
unfinished, an intentional choice for them to patina from their
natural state over time — do not compete for attention. "There
is no mystery to their makeup, simply a serene and peaceful
quality that is inherent as soon as one enters the site," describes
the SkB team. "Solid walls of rammed earth blocks, fabricated
from soils excavated from the property, bookend each of the
structures and instill a sense of permanence, while abundant
glazing ensure maximum flow of light and air."
Blending with the site, the colors allow architecture and nature
to become visually unified. "The vision was to create something
consciously restrained and one with the ground on which it
stands," remembers Gaffney. "We mentioned to our client that the
house would not be complete until the landscaping grows in. After
about a year, Lisa agreed and said the place is now 'magical.'"
skbarchitects.com
3.25.2022 | DIGS.NET 49
