MEADOW HOUSE

The mission outlined by our clients: create a California home with a Korean heart; immerse us in the natural beauty of the Santa Lucia Preserve where we can entertain large groups, host family and age in place with ease.

Inspired by the savannah grassland ecology of the site, we worked closely with the architects to build on this strong sense of place. Buildings were tucked into the oaks to create a grand plaza and continue the massing pattern of adjacent woodlands and open meadows. A variety of outdoor rooms within the plaza play off of the geometry of the architecture and the fall of the topography. Grasslands textures were repeated in the plant palette to seamless blend the family compound into its context.

The grand plaza unites the buildings and creates a compound. From this central point, radial concrete walls emanate from a central point and fan out to link the house and guest house. They subtly organize the plaza into outdoor rooms. Arcs of stone walls traverse and the space providing key moments for the plaza to step down and respond to the topography, out into the meadow beyond.

We integrated green measures throughout the design. Regionally sourced stone for the dry stack walls, Sierra Tan gravel for the plaza and Calstone pavers for the drive were all sourced from within California to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping. The planting easily meets the WELO state ordinance with drought tolerant plantings and no turf nor lawn. The use of drip irritation, weather monitoring and soil moisture gauges increase water use efficiency. Low voltage lighting decreases electrical demand for the project while reducing maintenance with long lifespan for bulbs.