Client: Couple with grown children and grandchildren.

Scope: Complement to main house completed in 2001; 800 square feet of flexible living space; kitchenette; roof deck; outdoor shower

This compact two-bedroom house occupies a sunny patch on a steep slope and is surrounded by native vegetation. It links to the main house by a path of rustic stones, and while it has some views of its larger neighbor, enjoys near-total privacy. It shares with the main house the same set of impulses: a continual connection with nature and a roof deck and other outdoor places to enjoy nature, including a roomy outdoor shower—angled mahogany slats built around a patinated steel frame. Inside are two bedrooms at opposite ends of the house, each with their own bathroom. The communal area is in the center of the guesthouse; it has a sitting area with three banquettes that convert to beds; a curtain by the kitchenette can be drawn for privacy, turning this into an extra bedroom for children. Interior walls are teak, cork and mahogany, giving the house the feel of a classic boat. The exterior is meticulously detailed, with copper cladding.

Materials: Copper; fir; mahogany; teak; cork; zebrawood; exposed aggregate concrete; granite; cast integral color concrete

Collaborators:
General Contractor: Andrew A. Flake Inc.
Structural Engineer: RSE Associates, Inc.
Landscape Architect: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.

Photographer: Bruce T. Martin Architectural and Fine Art Photography