The site’s geological formations became a metaphorical motif for this little black dress of a dwelling. Its fire-resistant cementitious stucco, blackened cedar, and sculptural metal roof were inspired by the wildfire-scarred landscape strewn with volcanic rocks. “I remember going to pick one up and being surprised at how lightweight it was,” says Neal J. Z. Schwartz, FAIA. “We wanted to reference the rocks, the history of the Nuns Fire, and the chance it would come through again.”
Conceived as a multifunctional slab-on-grade pavilion set along a service core, the building contains two bedrooms and a bath, a compact kitchen and living space, and a sheltered outdoor cooking area. Folding glass wall systems stack neatly against the charred-wood partial walls, throwing open the building to the wild setting. That openness is balanced by a dark, massive roof with deep overhangs that protect the occupants from the powerful sun. Framed with prefabricated wood trusses—a conventional building system manipulated to creative effect—its floating appearance hints at the rocks’ paradoxical qualities of being heavy and light at the same time.
The jury was captivated by the concept and execution. “The roofline has a slight bend in it that’s working with the landscape,” a judge observed. “The basalt is an interesting part of it, and it’s very sculptural.”
Citation
Custom Accessory or Outbuilding
S^A | Schwartz and Architecture
Leit House
Sonoma County, California
Project Credits
Architect: Neal J. Z. Schwartz, FAIA, principal in charge; Christopher W. Baile, project architect; Ania Burlinska, project designer, S^A | Schwartz and Architecture, San Francisco
Builder: Eames Construction, Petaluma, California
Interior designer: S^A | Schwartz and Architecture
Landscape architect: Totem Landscape Services, Sonoma, California
Structural engineer: Framework Engineering, Oakland, California
Project size: 816 square feet
Site size: 39 acres
Construction cost: Withheld
Photography: Douglas Sterling
Key Products
Bath ventilation: Panasonic
Cabinetry: ApplePly maple
Cooktop/range: Bosch
Dishwasher: Bosch
Faucets: Brizo
Home control: Lutron
Refrigerator: Bosch
Roof truss system: All Truss
Sinks: Franke, Nameeks’ Sacarabeo
Tile: Fireclay, Heath
Washer/dryer: Bosch
Windows: Andersen Windows
Window wall systems: NanaWall