Waterfall Residence

Named after the angled rear wall of the house, the Waterfall Residence is a three-bedroom, three-bath home in Carmel Valley, California. Located on a difficult lot with a challenging slope, the home rises above the land using the steel prefabricated structure Blue Sky Building System.

The home is designed to capture views and live within the canopies of the majestic oaks on the site. Designed to be passively cooled and heated, the home also employs solar electric power, rainwater collection, and an energy-efficient mechanical system.

A key element of the design intent of the interior and exterior are the owners’ background as industrial designers. They have collected and owned many pieces of mid-century and contemporary furniture and appliances over the years. This home helps to exhibit those pieces.

The Carmel Valley area is prone to wildfire and the design of the home was intentional to maximize the fire resistance of the home. Exterior materials, clearance of fast-catching vegetation, and the use of a steel structural system/deck were all intentional for fire resistance.