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.

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 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 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.”

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Field Architecture / @fieldarchitecture

Fabricator: Spearhead

Landscape Design Company: Ground Studio

Interior Design: LJL Design