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P R O F I L E | F E L D M A N A R C H I T E C T U R E
PHOTOGRAPHS:
COURTESY
OF
JOE
FLETCHER
A
round 150 miles south of San Francisco, Santa Lucia
Preserve is an exclusive, 20,000-acre private development
with exceptional homes that are restricted in size to
protect nature. One of them was conceived by the team at Feldman
Architecture, whose philosophy focuses around the desire to create
"buildings that sit gracefully and lightly on the earth: beautiful,
healthful, and soulful spaces that enhance our clients' lives, our
communities, and the environment."
Spread over 2,800 square feet, the two-bedroom main house
including a guest unit with one bedroom was built on a single level
and features low rooflines, resulting in a compact structure. One of
the main objectives was to connect, both literally and figuratively,
the S-shaped property to the site. e curved
rammed earth walls—which follow the
natural contours of the surroundings and act
as a thermal mass—and the concrete floors
help to regulate temperatures from day to
night. roughout this project, Feldman
Architecture explored a contemporary
version of traditional ranch ideals in order to
meet the owners' brief.
e open plan—informally centered on the
kitchen—enables a strong connection between
the interior and exterior spaces. In the main
living room, expansive glass panels and sliding
doors oriented toward the south open up to
a porch and an outdoor patio, which form a
versatile entertaining area. e curved roof
mimics the hills and extends to protect the
interior spaces from the sun. e decor features
a soft color and material palette, and an
abundance of wood (in the ceilings, furniture,
windows and door frames), providing
warmth and nodding to the midcentury
CON T EM POR A RY
R A NCH
Feldman Architecture designed this
Northern California propert y to have
minimum impact on its natural surroundings.
W R I T T E N B Y K A R I N E M O N I É
