Country Home Outdoor Living

This solar-powered retreat in Northern California’s Sonoma wine region was designed by American firm Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects to offer outdoor living areas and framed views of the landscape.

The owners requested that the residence be suitable for outdoor living with easy access to the pond and swimming pool during the summer months. Providing views of the scenic site was also a key factor. The property comprises a main house, a pool house and a detached garage – all low, linear volumes, embedded in the landscape.

Slab concrete, stucco and cedar were used for exterior walls. The 274-square-foot main apartment consists of a series of bars and boxes of varying heights, including an open-air volume that doubles as an outdoor living room.

Inside the house is equipped with Douglas fir cupboards and concrete floors. Sufficient glass and sliding glass doors provide a strong connection to the outside area. The open living and dining area is surrounded by windows in the backyard that bring soft, natural light into the room. I like the bold upholstery of the living space, this decor is lively and lively. The kitchen is more modern, like it was mid-century, with this combination of white and light wood.

The 78 square meter pool house includes a changing room, a guest room and a playroom as well as storage space. A spacious terrace is shaded by a grid-like canopy and serves as a comfortable area for dining and relaxing.

The architects used a number of passive cooling strategies to reduce energy consumption, including heavy insulation, operable windows, and deep roof overhangs. These elements allow the house to remain comfortable without air conditioning. Electricity is generated by solar panels. Photovoltaic heat pumps heat the water that circulates in the panel through the house’s radiant heating system. The pool water is also heated by solar panels.

The house offers lovely outdoor areas and cool and intelligent heating solutions. Check out the pictures for inspiration!