Sonoma, California is the heart of wine country. But while rolling hills covered in lush, green vineyards may be the first image you conjure, there is a lot more to Sonoma than swirling a glass or smashing a grape. The house we are featuring today sits nestled into a Sonoma hillside, overlooking the valley below. Its modern aesthetic, from DNM Architect, includes clean lines, and beautiful textures and give it all the dimension of one of the state's most fragrant pinot noirs or decadent cabernets. Being located in California, there is also that state's almost stereotypical environmentalist woven throughout the home.
Throughout the house, sustainability is an important factor in the design. Concrete flooring, for instance, is not just trendy and clean but offers a low-maintenance flooring solution and helps to control temperature swings, even in Sonoma's mostly mild climate.
The idea of sustainability even extends to the inhabitants themselves, who are already retired. Wanting to remain in this dream home for many years, the house was designed to accommodate future elevators and wheelchairs. Further, by putting most of the important living areas on the first floor, it will be easy to continue to utilize those spaces, even if the occupants have limited mobility.
The exterior of the home, with a folded metal roof and native, drought resistant plants, brings the aesthetics of the project in line with its environment. The shape of the roof mimics the surrounding hills while the landscaping is both beautiful and practical, not draining any of the state's precious reservoirs. Beyond that, the south side of the house is home to solar panels as well as rainwater collection technology.
Of course, the house is also beautiful. The architects have certainly not let their green initiatives interfere with their modern vision. Indeed, if more designers and homeowners were willing and able to put these types of concerns first, the world might indeed be a more beautiful place.
