Houzz Tour: A California Home Created by Nature

While many houses these days are designed with their surrounding setting in mind, most structures require knocking trees down or leveling out hillsides — to some extent. But for this woodland site from the Santa Cruz Mountains, maintaining the heritage oaks and winding creek has been an absolute must.

The clients hired David Wilson and his team at WA Design to create a house which was inspired by the site’s complicated building footprint. To preserve the dense oak canopies, Wilson and his group built the house for a set of smaller pavilions, connected by glassed-in walkways. Every one of these structures turn and wind through the intricate oak grove. Does the house preserve the integrity of the website, but numerous characteristics of the design additionally enhance the presence of the trees and the form of the creek into the home’s interior and exterior.

WA Design Architects

Wilson used a palette of natural stones, metals, and dark forests in the kitchen. This dramatic and earthy palette is echoed throughout the house. The kitchen countertops are made from soapstone, and the cabinetry is custom made from sapele, an African tree reminiscent of mahogany. Wilson and his crew installed a fall bronze soffit on the ceiling. Lighting and skylights make the metal shine throughout the day and night.

The dark blue curved wall to the left has been designed to separate the entrance hall from the rest of the space. Wilson allowed the curve to extend into the floor, allowing it to keep on separating the two spaces.

WA Design Architects

This structure is one of five pavilions on the property — pool and guest house, kitchen and family area, living and dining area, and bedroom area. Each of those vaulted-roof constructions are linked through different flat roof volumes. This particular pavilion includes the family room and the kitchen. The pool is visible just outside of the family room’s sliding glass doors, beyond a set of dramatic custom lighting — a bold contrast with the warm bronze soffit.

WA Design Architects

A living area and dining room are combined in another connected pavilion. A decorative chandelier hangs over a pure cut wood dining table. A small living area with a stone fireplace sits just around the corner.

WA Design Architects

A little wine cellar is located just past the edge of the dining table. Another curved bronze hangs from this pavilion’s ceiling. The curved form and shaded effect is meant to echo the pine canopies outside. The bronze reflects the exterior gardens throughout the day and provides a warm glow at night.

WA Design Architects

The master bedroom is located in the upstairs of some other pavilion. Large custom wood windows give the space a treehouse feel. Wilson and his group wanted the house to unite a intricate palette of details and materials, which is evident from the blend of this bronze fireplace, white walls, and timber windows in this area.

WA Design Architects

The master bath continues the subject of striking curved forms at the home’s interior. This dark oval form houses the closet for the master suite.

WA Design Architects

WA Design also made a unique freestanding staircase with glass treads, which sits within the middle of the home’s main pavilion. “We wanted to incorporate fluidity into as many elements of this home as possible,” says Wilson. “These clients were very engaged and really pushed us out of my comfort zone, which resulted in many unique elements.”

WA Design Architects

White cement panel siding has been selected as a contrast to the deep shade beneath the dense walnut canopy. Zinc standing-seam roofing was installed on each of the pavilion’s curved roofs. “This house is very modern,” says Wilson,”But we also incorporated tasteful and refined detailing throughout the design.”

WA Design Architects

The pool, pool house, and terrace are situated on a small slope. A set of stairs from the pool level flows down the incline and strikes the grass playing field. Multiple courtyards and outdoor spaces connect the home’s pavilions with the landscape. Among those glass walkways linking the kitchen pavilion along with also the dining pavilion is visible in this shot. Together, the home’s five pavilions provide 7,000 square feet of living area.

WA Design Architects

Wilson and his team at WA Design also made the landscaping on this website. The main goal was to create a low-maintenance look with as many native Californian plants as possible. In the long run, the design evolved as a blend of many different grass types, which echoed the sense of this hillside site before construction.

WA Design Architects

The grassy field from the prior shot is bordered by a curving granite walkway which mimics the border of the creek bed. This magnificent sculpture patio is located at the end of the path. Wilson made this sculpture himself, lining up steel sticks to echo the form of the creek. Since the creek isn’t very visible from the majority of the property, Wilson and his team really wanted to enhance its presence through the home’s landscape.

WA Design Architects

More Houzz Tours:
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