Studio Sarah Willmer Architecture

Sonoma Retreat

Sonoma Retreat
© Jasper Sanidad

SONOMA RETREAT

Studio Sarah Willmer

AREA
2338 ft²

 CIVIL ENGINEER
Atterbury & Associates

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Vinson Engineering Inc.

LANDSCAPE
Arterra Landscape Architects

MANUFACTURERS
Daltile, Henrybuilt, Loewen, Nemetschek, Custom Metal Sales, Ipe wood

PHOTOGRAPHS
Jasper Sanidad, Daniel Bernauer

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Hawkes Construction

DESIGN TEAM
Megan Carter, Britta Tuschhoff, Olya Piskun

LOCATION
Healdsburg, United States

CATEGORY
Houses

YEAR
2016

Text description provided by architect.

Located on a grassy, oak tree shaded hillside with a creek traveling through the southeastern portion of the lot, the site is emblematic of the Northern California landscape.

Sonoma Retreat
© Jasper Sanidad
Sonoma Retreat
© Jasper Sanidad
Sonoma Retreat
© Jasper Sanidad

A portion of the site is protected for a stream that carries the run-off of much of the neighboring properties and fluctuates dramatically throughout the year.

The house is situated near the top of the sloped lot, with its back to the neighbor to the west above. The design takes advantage of the views towards the trees as well as perches above the potential flood plain of the site.

The project includes a master plan, site development and the design of two structures: a garage/office/guest suite and a main house.

Sonoma Retreat
© Jasper Sanidad
Sonoma Retreat
© Daniel Bernauer
Sonoma Retreat
© Daniel Bernauer

Both structures are less than 3000 sq. ft. making it comfortable for two. The clients wanted to create a minimalist retreat away from San Francisco where they could escape and enjoy privacy within the landscape.

The driveway takes one over a culvert and through the trees towards the house. The natural landscape gives way to a plateau of decomposed granite containing the manicured area surrounding the two buildings.

Sonoma Retreat
© Daniel Bernauer
Sonoma Retreat
© Daniel Bernauer

Windows frame views including a courtyard space made by the interstitial space between the two structures.

The office, part of the first building, can be easily converted into a guest space with a Murphy bed that is part of a thickened cabinetry wall.

Sonoma Retreat
© Daniel Bernauer
Sonoma Retreat
© Daniel Bernauer

The main house is a simple bar structure, open towards the view with the secondary spaces lining the length of the building along the hillside. The living area, dining area, kitchen and small office are all open. Built-in shelving allow the owners to display a curated collection of pottery picked up during frequent trips to Asia.

Exterior materials include a gray corrugated metal siding, a smooth cream stucco wrapping the inverted surfaces along the facade, and birch veneer at doors and lining the ceiling at the entry that slides from exterior to interior.

Sonoma Retreat
© Daniel Bernauer
Sonoma Retreat
© Daniel Bernauer


Sonoma Retreat
East elevation
Sonoma Retreat
North elevation


Sonoma Retreat
Site plan

Sonoma Retreat
Floor plan

Studio Sarah Willmer Architecture
T +1 415 6421166 F +1 415 6421188
Studio Sarah Willmer Architecture
2601 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States