ORO Editions

This 6,000-square-foot private residence was designed for a 12-acre site at the western edge of the Ojai Valley. Accessed by a private road, the home is sited in an open meadow surrounded by groves of native oak trees. Designed for an extended family, three outbuildings have been added to the principal home: a guesthouse and dance studio, a painting studio, and a performance shed for outdoor activities. The home’s living room is designed for music recitals with an elevated plinth and grand piano at one end and a seating group at the other, surrounding a fireplace. Stone planters contain native plantings

WALL HOUSE OJAI, CALIFORNIA

while the majority of the land is left natural and groomed. Adjacent to the kitchen is an organic food garden and the home is book-ended by peach and apricot orchards.

The rooftop of the main building has a large photovoltaic array as well as a rainwater harvesting system. The westerly exterior wall has been designed as a thermally separated rain screen system insulating the interior of the house from solar heat gain, and select floors include radiant cooling and heating. The home is naturally ventilated both horizontally and vertically with screens and automated clerestories.