The Owner has land that was once used for livestock grazing many years ago. The family wanted a small modern building only a few minutes’ walk down a dirt & gravel road from the main house, located in its own private open space, and separated from the main house by a grove of trees. The tiny structure would also be for guests or a quiet place for some work, or an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) or a small art studio. The small house is placed beside a 75-year-old cast-in-place concrete livestock watering trough now used as a plunge during the warm months.

The bespoke award-winning house has galvanized corrugated metal siding and roofing found on many old rural farm structures in Marin County. Some of these structures are tall and windowless because of their use as silos or storage of large vehicles and farm equipment. In that direction, the house is also two-story structure silo-like to minimize its footprint on the land and to look like it belongs.

Instead of being a simple box with a pitched roof, the exterior roofing steps upward reminiscent of Norwegian Stave churches which both the Architect and Owner both admire. The stepped roofs shelter distinct layers of space underneath: the outermost layer resides under the lowest roof and contains the kitchenette, the bathroom, storage, and cozy sitting areas. The middle layer sits under the next highest roof and contains all circulation with high ceilings and walls for artwork. These two layers are rendered in white & light colors and the finishes are more refined and slickly finished-white marble countertops; white modern cabinetry and subtle touches of color. Reused white-painted fence railing in a diagonal pattern is placed on the walls to provide interest and strength. Skylights wash daylight down on these walls and shelves below.

The highest gabled roof shelters the final layer which is better described as the rugged core—a two-story structure with the loft above and the living room directly below: both defined with 4 pairs of reused rough lumber at the corners and designed with shelving. The two-story core is rendered in rough re-used lumber that is “bleached” with a rugged personality and, with robust colors, in contrast to the refined white layers below. Re-used 4-inch unstained boards are used on the loft walls. A 70-gallon stainless steel water tank sits on top of the loft closet under the highest point in the house for water storage and water pressure to the plumbing below. Water is provided by a well nearby.

The house appearance can be best described as California Farm house, California modern, California contemporary, San Francisco Modern, or Bay Area modern/contemporary.

Receipient of a Design Awards by the 2021 AIA San Francisco Annual Design Awards Committee