Knights Valley Residence / info >

This house was inspired by Charles Keeler’s definition of California architecture as "landscape design with occasional rooms in case of rain." Built by William Turnbull and Mary Griffin as their own family retreat in Sonoma County, the building is an exploration of how minimally they could impact the site. The house, only 640 square feet, is deceptively simple and combines architecture and landscape to make large rooms out-of-doors. The house and well buildings are sited on a bench, the only flat area in the vineyard. They frame a lawn that opens out to an oak grove with a dramatic view of Mt. St. Helena. The house is heated by a wood burning stove and uses Douglas fir milled from wind-toppled trees on the property.