Project Description
2003 RADA
Custom / Less Than 2,000 Square Feet / Merit
Turnbull Griffin Haesloop’s clients for this Napa Valley cottage wanted a single-story house. But their site, an idyllic hillside, lent itself to a two-story plan. The architects solved this problem by terracing the hillside with two stone retaining walls, creating a plateau that could accommodate a single-level house. “Many of the old vineyards in the area are terraced,” says partner Eric Haesloop. “We took that idea and expanded on it as a way of getting the clients a house where they felt comfortable.”
Inside, the emphasis on comfort continues. A massive stone fireplace in the living room anchors the open, airy plan; it’s also visible from the master bedroom. A stone-lined shower features a peaked skylight roof that gives the space an outdoor-shower feeling. “Fantastic,” said the judges of the project’s utter simplicity. “You can’t teach this stuff in school.”