LEED Platinum House | Tiburon Bay House | Butler Armsden Architect

In 2007 our client set out to build the highest performing LEED Platinum house possible and found the perfect site in the form of a dilapidated house on a sloped lot on the north side of the Tiburon peninsula. The entire team was tasked with setting an example of just how far this energy saving architectural exercise could be pushed to set an example of great design and great performance at the same time. The floor plan of the house is centralized around a vertical stair to minimize circulation for people and utilities.The rooms are then allowed to spiral away from this core to take advantage of the views and the garden. An exterior bridge that serves as an outdoor living space also connects the garden to the house and solves the difficult problem of entering a house on a fairly steep uphill site. All of the materials used in the project are recycled or sustainable and in some cases, like the retaining walls, were salvaged from the foundations of the original house. Electricity and hot water are solar powered, and there is even a complex water reclamation system that is technologically ahead of the local building codes.......more

Yolo Country Cabin | Sacramento Valley California | Butler Armsden Architect

The Yolo cabin sits on a 400-acre farm in Yolo County near the town of Winters, a vibrant farming community in the Sacramento Valley. The architectural forms are inspired by the local water towers and lean to sheds that dot the agricultural landscape in the area. Because the land is so flat the water tower which houses a viewing terrace allows 360-degree views to the horizon. The main room of the cabin is housed in the lean to section, and is also elevated off the ground to enhance the view, as well as for air circulation during the hot summers. The cabin is supported on two large glulam beams, which allows it to be moved in the future if desired.....more

St. Helena Retreat | Napa valley California | Butler Armsden Architect

A couple looking for a place to retire in St. Helena, in the Napa Valley of California, settled on this secluded but close to downtown "L" shaped lot for the site of their modern retreat. The main house is set back from the street, and is separated from the garage and studio by a lap pool that doubles as a reflecting pool for the facade. The main room of the house is two stories tall, and opens through triple sliding doors to similarly tall exterior space that is protected by a large roof overhang. The house and garage/studio form bookends to the pool and exterior space in between, creating a private world that is just a five minute walk from downtown St. Helena.......more