This Breathtaking Ranch Home Was Constructed Without Felling a Single Tree
When Field Architecture was commissioned to design a house with a music studio, a hay barn, and a stable on a steep slope in the middle of an oak grove, they approached the technically difficult site with distinct deference. "The first rule was that we weren’t going to remove any of these majestic oaks," explains Jess Field, co-founder of the firm. From there, the home's design process unfolded like a case study on how to work with existing topography.
The gabled structure peers out from the dense oak grove to the meadow below.
Cantilevered over the hillside, the residence threads through the trees. It's anchored by a concrete foundation that stops just short of the roots.
Set in Portola Valley, California, Pinon Ranch is the full-time residence of an active and creative couple with grown children. It's designed for the family to meet and celebrate their passions—including music and horses. The complex consists of two volumes which house a music studio, a hay barn, stables, and a main house. The public spaces are located on one side, while the private areas lie on the other—and the two volumes are connected by a glass entry foyer that Field describes as a "knuckle."
The "knuckle" connects the public and private spaces with the meadow on one side and the oak grove on the other. The space between the volumes is as carefully considered as the architecture itself.
The home features concrete floors with radiant heating. A custom folded-steel, double-sided fireplace separates the living room from the dining area. The chandelier is from Restoration Hardware, and the coffee table is custom made.
The architects carefully considered the space between each structure. A covered deck and an outdoor pool are set in the expanse between the kitchen and the music studio, while off the main bedroom, a wall of glass provides an expansive view through the trees, overlooking the horse stables which are located further down the hill.
The kitchen features marble and zinc counters, a Waterworks faucet, and cabinetry from Jerry Short.
The glass doors off the kitchen open to an indoor/outdoor covered sitting area which leads to the pool.
The family’s personal pursuits also played a key role in the design of the home. The wife is an equestrian vaulting coach who trains the U.S. national team for the World Equestrian Games. The family is also passionate about music—they play a wide variety of instruments, and the music barn was designed with family jam sessions in mind.
Field says, "Each of the family’s passions became our passions as we set out to design a home for the harmony of horses, guitars, dogs, and trumpets—all of which compose the story of this special place."
The dining area features a Jason Wein Cooper River Diamond chandelier, Emile chairs from Zele, and a custom-made table.
A lap pool fills the expanse between the music studio and the house.
The Vis a Vis loungers are from Janus et Cie.
Music is one of the family's passions, and this barn was built with family jam sessions in mind.
The master bedroom has a Restoration Hardware bed, wall sconces from Designer Metal Works, and a wall of windows.
The vanity area in the master bathroom is open, allowing light and air to circulate. The bathroom vanities are custom made by Jerry Short Cabinets with hardware from Rocky Mountain Hardware.
The master bath includes an envy-worthy cedar soaking tub from Roberts Hot Tubs.
The stables are visible from the master bedroom.
Pinon Ranch appears to emerge from the dense oak grove.
Related Reading:
These 10 Refreshed Barns Bring Modern Living to the Countryside
20 Modern American Farmhouses That Update Tradition
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Field Architecture / @fieldarchitecture
Fabricator: Spearhead
Landscape Design Company: Ground Studio
Interior Design: LJL Design
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