In San Joaquin Valley, nothing seems more appropriate than a ranch house sitting on an expanse of just-mown grass, so fresh that the lines of green stretch across the plane. Aidlin Darling Design, in their contemporary interpretation of this traditional building structure, introduces slab walls and heavy elements in adding depth and dimension to the one-story building. The San Joaquin Valley Residence, recipient of the 2012 AIA California Council’s Design Award, features the contrast between the light, transparent glazing and the smooth stone walls and furnishings within its interiors. Natural elements weave in and out of the house, as the view of the greenery outside gets framed by natural the light bouncing off the polished surfaces in the heart of the open-plan home.
Pictures © Matthew Millman Photography

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Kimberly

Kimberly is a graduate from MIT's Department of Architecture, and has recently joined the publication team at MIT OpenCourseWare. While architecture remains her first love, her interests encompass literature – epic poetry and Medieval romances are her favorite – and also fashion.

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