Project Description
This project was selected as a winner in AIA’s 2023 Interior Architecture Awards.
After a 2017 wildfire destroyed their house in Napa Valley, Calif., a family of three called upon San Francisco–based Aidlin Darling Design to raise a resilient new abode from its ashes. Inspired by local farm-building vernacular, the resulting (and aptly named) Three Gables house comprises three gabled volumes that support multigenerational living. The residence features a throng of private spaces, including a craft and study room for the son, separate offices for the husband and the wife, plus a guest suite designed for an aging relative. Meanwhile, common living spaces—replete with oak, steel, and bronze cabinetry—are light-filled and open for family gatherings.
While the house is architecturally distinctive, the Aidlin Darling team designed Three Gables to embrace the natural landscape while recognizing the reality of the effects of a changing climate. The roofs are purpose-built both to cast off stormwater and to divert sparks from future fires in the area. To that end, the firm also employed flame-resistant concrete and steel as the main building materials.
PROJECT CREDITS
Project: Three Gables, Napa, Calif.
Architect: Aidlin Darling Design
General Contractor: Grassi & Associates
Civil Engineer: Lescure Engineers
Structural Engineer: Strandberg Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Monterey Energy Group
Electrical Engineer: Summit Engineering
Lighting: Revolver Design
Geotechnical Engineer: Herzog Geotechnical
Surveyor: Jackson & Associates
Septic Engineer: RAM Engineering
Furniture Selection: StudioM with Aidlin Darling Design
This article first appeared in the May/June 2023 issue of ARCHITECT.