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Folding glass doors on the north and south elevations create cross ventilation and open the cabin, clad in Western red cedar, to its forested setting and views of the ocean.

In October 2017, the catastrophic Nuns fire incinerated the ’70s-era A-frame in Napa County, California, that had served as a family retreat for 20 years and that the owners, who are mostly retired, were in the process of turning into their permanent home. (When the fire hit, the couple had already brought nearly all their family keepsakes and heirlooms, making the loss especially poignant.) Working with architectural designer Brandon Jørgensen, the couple turned the loss into a chance to build what is now their permanent home with fire resistance baked into the design.

Originally featured in Better Homes & Gardens as “The House You Asked For,” its colorful built-ins, modern wall treatments, and indoor-outdoor living were a direct response to reader input, and were inspired by California Case Study architecture.

The remote site is only accessible via a 4x4 vehicle, and doesn’t have mobile phone reception—which made construction challenging as any queries needed to be relayed to the architects using a satellite phone for emergencies or by driving to the nearest point with reception. “It was a real mission,” says architect Leon vad der Westhuizen. “We had to plan everything meticulously and the construction team relied heavily on our CAD data and the building information we shared.”

A picture window over a custom concrete bench fashions a window seat. “Family, friends, and animals all enjoy the various places to relax in the lounge,” says the homeowner. “The window seat is universally the most prized nook in the home.”

In the living room, a new wall of glass connects the house to its landscape, while a family-heirlume Persian rug adds softness to the new ceramic tile floor.

Designed by Philip Sheridan Collins in 1962, Joyce Caroll Oates’s former 3,400-square-foot residence in Princeton, New Jersey, is built around a massive bluestone courtyard.

The renovation introduced additional steel beams to reinforce the “sagging cantilevered roof.” The team also added insulation, rebuilt the chimney/parapet, and supplemented roof shingles with ones that were consistent with the originals.

"Sustainability is always a goal and has led to a framework that drives our thinking at every stage of the project," says Jackson. "One of the key elements in this particular project that allowed for a more sustainable home was a very simple idea: less is more."

The historic agricultural buildings now evoke modern flair, mixing raw concrete with brick, stone and rammed earth. The exposed timber beams and restored frames add warmth to the large spaces, which are bathed in natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling glazing.

DiNiord collaborated with craftsman Ken Hood to design the concrete bench with firewood storage and detachable wood back. Douglas fir columns along the walkway creates a colonnade. The mono-sloped roof is a nod to the long roofline of the original house that stood on the property. “Reducing the angles also reflects the strictness to budget,” the wife says.

Noticing a void in the market, he partnered with renowned Australian architect and champion of sustainability, Peter Stutchbury, on Dimensions X, a start-up offering responsible, affordable, and architecturally-pleasing pre-crafted homes at the click of a button.

Weekend House, Schroeder, MN, 2009.

A view of the two-way fireplace from the kitchen, which was added in the 1960's.