Fire Country Lookout

Written by Omar Dahabra

Location: California, USA
Year: 2022
Architects: Studio VARA

The clients: he’s a dreamer, she’s the grounded one with a passion for sustainability. The property: perfect. Tucked away, down a windy road, long after the pavement turns to gravel and Google Maps can no longer be trusted, one is welcomed by not just one amazing view, but jaw-dropping views in every direction. And that is how the couple knew this was “the one,” the perfect place to build their dream home for their own family (they have 3 young kids).

The story of Fire Country Lookout, a stunning Sonoma County home, however, begins a generation back, in South Africa, where the husband’s father raised his family, and instilled his love of “being out in the bush” and feeling connected to the land. Having founded a construction company based in Johannesburg, the elder family man also passed on his desire to build and create. This legacy was top of mind when the couple visited the seemingly undisturbed lands of Healdsburg which served as a reminder of the rolling hills of his childhood days.

Understanding the “spirit of the place” was something the clients and architects took very seriously. By camping out at the site at various times of the year, hiking the 15-acre site, and observing solar and wind patterns and daily habits of local wildlife, the team collected data and first-hand experiences that would inform the nature of the design. The home snakes along the ridge of the hilly terrain; generous porches blur the lines between inside and out; louvers provide much-needed shade; and windows take advantage of daylighting, cross-ventilation, and frame those show-stopping views. These design moves “transcend any particular style,” the perfect approach for a couple who intend this home to last for generations.

Despite its easy-luxe vibe, the building is extremely hard-working and efficient. It generates enough energy from PV’s to be off-the-grid, relies on its own septic, well, and propane gas supply; uses solar panels to heat water for daily functions and the pool, and keeps battery storage for emergencies. When the Walbridge fire of 2020 temporarily halted construction, the design team felt vindicated in arming the home with a protective outer shell of non-combustible standing-seam exterior cladding and a whole-house fire protection system.

Despite its protective “shell,” the 3,896-square-foot home feels open and free flowing. Clean lines abound, with a great room that features a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams, creating a sense of spaciousness and grandeur. The kitchen, at once modern and warm, is anchored by a large island perfect for hosting guests. Connected by an open-air breezeway, all of the bedrooms are located in a separate wing of the house, offering privacy and tranquility. The pool house, carport and covered terrace add another 694-square-feet.

The clients could not have guessed the twists and turns of the road leading to their dream home would mirror the path that brought their project to fruition. Ten years prior, while the couple were developing another project with Studio VARA, the job was unexpectedly halted. It wasn’t until 2018 when the clients eventually found their way back and texted, “It’s time.” And so, the vision for another multi-generational home was born. Text description by the architects.

Source: www.studiovara.com
Photography by: Matthew Millman
Studio VARA (architecture)
Studio VARA (interior design)
Studio VARA (landscape)
Tucci Lighting (lighting design)
Strandberg Engineering (structural engineering)
Fairweather and Associates (contractor)
Blue Revolution (pool contractor)
Adobe Associates (civil engineer)
Monterey Energy Group (mechanical engineer)
Audio Visual Engineering (audio visual design)

Omar Dahabra
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