Vista Del Valle by Zimmerman and Associates

A spacious residence overlooks the sunbathed, rolling hills of Sonoma, California. Would you believe that it does not have air conditioning? Vista Del Valle, a project from Zimmerman and Associates, achieves this feat through efficient design and a smart use of materials in construction. Solar studies modeling the sun’s path during different seasons reveal the building’s genius in orientation and glazing design. Full-length windows dominate the building’s southern façade to distribute sunlight into the building’s interior, while fine stucco insulates the building’s north-facing walls. The infinity pool built on the edge of the site acts as a cooling reservoir, and tempers the hot afternoon sun. Clerestory windows open up the interior living spaces, which are primarily open-plan to foster better ventilation and circulation. A pitched roof extends past the exterior walls in order to provide additional shade from the sun, and conveniently, a veranda. Cedar veneer serves as a natural solution for the building’s siding, and is a visual contrast to the white, rectangular volumes that indicate more personal spaces within the house. The building is divided into four sections: garage, common spaces, private bedrooms, and guest suite. Outdoor courtyards and rectangles of neatly-trimmed grass punctuate the building’s footprint, effectively negotiating the angular geometries created by the main volumes of the building. Simple furnishings and lighting elements make Viste Del Valle a perfect summer getaway.

via – Images © Bruce Damonte