Pine Flat

Healdsburg, California

Remotely accessed via a former stagecoach road north-east of Healdsburg, California, the 2019 Kincade Fire destroyed the original off-grid house. The pioneering resourcefulness of the clients allowed them to embrace an alternative, landscape-driven lifestyle, that follows the spirit of the nearby historic Pine Flat community – a boomtown that flourished in the Mayacamas Mountains during the 1870 quicksilver rush.

The project was developed with key aims that included a durable, low maintenance, long-lifecycle, wildfire-resilient house. Robust materials, a fire-resistive shell, sliding ember screens, and exterior sprinklers above decks mitigate this concern. Accessibility as the clients’ age was important. The design integrates an entry ramp, wheelchair maneuvering, pre-framed elevator location, and maintains the primary bedroom on the same level as the kitchen, dining, and living spaces.

Reuse of existing foundation and walls for 90% of the project’s concrete retained embodied energy and limited additional excavation. A rectangular shed form inhabits the old angular foundation. Like stepping on a leaf, portions extending beyond the outline of the new rectangle are utilized for a sculptural entry step as well as a glazed light well. The preserved foundation is half buried into the hillside, juxtaposed with the outstretched protective structure elevated above. The simple form parallels the direction of the ridgeline, existing as a quiet presence in the wildland landscape. A new concrete chimney mass anchors the main floor and acts as thermal mass for the EPA certified wood stove. The artesian water basin fosters a visual and poetic dialogue to honor the site’s spring water.

The off-grid site utilities support a home that embraces passive survivability. The existing solar PV array was replaced with upgraded panels, inverters, and batteries. 100% of stormwater is captured and retained on site. A cantilevered gutter flows into a steel basin and diverts runoff to a vegetated bioretention area before flowing down to a retention pond that serves as a backup firefighting water source. Spring-fed wells provide all water usage including a dedicated tank for the fire hydrant and sprinkler system. The concrete basin captures water after it is harnessed by a Pelton wheel for supplementary hydroelectric power, offering a continually refreshed basin for cooling dips. Wastewater is treated in a repaired septic field.

This project exemplifies how residential architecture can transcend aesthetic considerations. The house is a tool for living shaped by the needs of the site. As we continue to expand into wild landscapes through development, we must enhance construction systems and materials to withstand disasters.