Walden House
Details
Credits
From Frank Hennessy
Carmel Valley House
Project Narrative
The clients, a recently-retired couple, searched coastal communities before settling on this 2.5- acre vacant lot. The site is minutes from Carmel Valley Village, with exceptional view potential due to a unique position on the easternmost edge of development. The client program included the following excerpts:
“This is a chance to commission an inspiring work for our forever home.
We embrace integrity of design, craftsmanship and materials so far as our budget allows. We envision a livable, elegant, honest, sustainable design where we and those who visit feel comfortable and inspired. Our wish - an efficient modern structure, abundant natural light, under 2,000 square feet, 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, a den/guest room, and a lap pool.
Nestled yet expansive - open to the elements.”
The property had two attractive building sites: an oak knoll at the top of the property, and a sloping side hill. A 30% slope, between the two sites, could be bridged, but not disturbed. An existing road cut had been graded to the presumptive building site on the knoll, affording elevated mountain views. However, current driveway/turnaround standards and dense oak cover would have entailed extensive grading and tree removal, altering a valuable site amenity. Instead, the lower site was selected to capture expansive views of pastures to the east as well as southern mountain views, but from a lower perch that could better screen foreground development.
Three concepts were considered to engage the knoll from the lower site, including one, two, and three-story plans. The latter two minimized the footprint and grading and created a dramatic relationship between the knoll and the mountain views. The one-story plan was selected for the efficiency and practicality of living on one level and the opportunity for a house in which all rooms, even showers, opened to the outdoors. In addition, the low-profile house has zero impact on the neighbors, compared to multi-level schemes.
A plinth was created with the pool forming a “horizontal blind” to prevent unwanted downward views.
A central courtyard is wrapped on three sides by the house and garage and the fourth by a retaining wall with stairs up to the knoll. The house is entered informally, through a breezeway to the courtyard which then opens to the view with pocketing doors on both sides of the dining room. The open L-shaped plan captures both views with the living room at the corner. The separation of the bedroom and den/guest room increases privacy and offers differentiated views.A 5’ module simplified a pre-fabricated steel structure erected in four days. All windows and doors are 5’x10’. 10’ ceilings and sliding and pocketing doors make the 1930 sf house feel spacious.
Sustainable features include:
landscape restoration with 6800 owner-propagated native seedlings
7’ overhangs, concrete floors and extensive ventilation for passive solar photovoltaic array
radiant heating
rain harvesting
extra insulation
water well, cistern and treatment for irrigation and pool
rain screen ventilation of siding