16 DIGS.NET | 3.25.2022
P R O F I L E | C L AY T O N K O R T E
dropped ceilings. Salvaged Cedar live-edge planks, sourced
from a local sawmill, were utilized for the island top and vanity.
"The slabs," Korte notes, "originated from felled trees in the area
as a result of a major 200-year river flood that decimated some
amazing Cedar and Cypress trees. We were happy to be able
to give these slabs a new life and extend their legacy on the
ranch." The space also accommodates a monumental table
for group tastings; this striking family heirloom offers a heavier
contrast to the cleaner and lighter lines of the interior. What's
more, Korte adds, "It adds a bit of that family legacy or history to
the space." Together, these decorative tensions achieve a quiet,
unhurried elegance underpinned by a design attuned to, and
reflective of, the landscape. Such is the nature of good hospitality
as envisioned by Clayton Korte.
"The project is an instrument; a tool or museum that not only
provides the utility of proper preservation of wine, but also
provides a privileged perspective to the occupant," Korte
concludes. "This sense of prospect and refuge as you approach
and eventually enter into the cave is central tenant of the design.
It maintains one's sense of subterranean occupation without the
overwhelming environmental conditions that would make one
seek to leave. In this way, the cave can be appreciated from
the safety of the interior space in the same way the stars can be
appreciated from the relative safety of Earth." claytonkorte.com
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"The project is an instrument; a tool or
museum that not only provides the utility
of proper preservation of wine, but also
provides a privileged perspective to the
occupant," Korte concludes.
