a remote site in northern california
Faulkner Architects completes this contemporary steel Pine Flat Residence along a former stagecoach road northeast of Healdsburg, California. Reaching this place requires time and attention, with the road narrowing as it climbs into the Mayacamas Mountains.
The previous house on the property was lost during the 2019 Kincade Fire. What remained was a concrete foundation pressed into the hillside, the clearing surrounded by dense vegetation and steep grades. Thus, the site carries the quiet traces of the historic Pine Flat community.
images © Joe Fletcher
Faulkner Architects Works Within an Existing Foundation
The new Pine Flat Residence is organized by the team at Faulkner Architects as a simple rectangular shed inside the footprint of the earlier structure. Nearly all of the existing concrete was kept in place. The old foundation establishes both scale and position on the slope.
Parts of that foundation extend beyond the new volume. One becomes an entry step shaped directly from the concrete. Another forms a light well that brings daylight down into the base. The ground feels cut and held rather than reshaped.
the Pine Flat Residence sits on a remote ridgeline northeast of Healdsburg, California
A Corten Steel Shell for Fire safety
Faulkner Architects designs a corten steel shell to enclose the Pine Flat Residence. The surface reads as continuous from roof to wall, and its tone shifts subtly with weather and sun. Openings are protected by sliding ember screens so that the steel facade remains visually consistent across all sides of the building.
Inside, living spaces are arranged on a single level. The kitchen, dining area, living room, and primary bedroom share one continuous floor. An entry ramp connects the house to the terrain, and a framed shaft allows for a future elevator. The home’s horizontality is emphasized through an elongated deck which wraps the living space and frames distant views of the rolling landscape.
Faulkner Architects rebuilt the house within the footprint of a fire-damaged concrete foundation
pine flat Operates Off Grid in the Mountains
The house is off-grid, and thus operates without connection to municipal utilities. Solar panels, inverters, and batteries were upgraded from the earlier installation. Electrical equipment is integrated into the concrete base.
Stormwater is collected across the roof. A cantilevered gutter directs water into a steel basin. From there, runoff moves into a planted bioretention area and then to a retention pond downslope. Water also drives a Pelton wheel that produces supplemental hydroelectric power. After passing through the system, water gathers in a concrete basin beside the entry. The basin remains filled throughout the year.
nearly all of the existing concrete was retained and incorporated into the new structure
a continuous corten steel shell encloses the house on all sides
the house operates fully off grid with solar and hydroelectric systems
primary living spaces are organized on a single accessible level
concrete, steel, and water systems shape the daily experience of the landscape
project info:
name: Pine Flat Residence
architect, interior design: Faulkner Architects | @faulknerarchitects
location: Healdsburg, California
photography: © Joe Fletcher | @joefletcherphoto
design team: Greg Faulkner, Jag Kievenaar, Jenna Shropshire, Owen Wright, Daniel Thompson, Lesa Faulkner, Chris Carbajal, David Regina, Kirt Hilker
contractor: Annadel Builders, INC
civil engineer: Summit Engineering
structural engineer: Strandberg Engineering
mechanical engineer: Sugarpine Engineering
electrical engineer: Sugarpine Engineering
geotechnical engineer: RGH Consultants
landscape: Terremoto
lighting: O-Lighting
surveyor: Munselle Civil Engineering
CALGreen: Soldata Energy Consulting
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