architecture | west
F
ew architects pay tribute to Mexican midcentury architecture or envision a home accented in searing, hot pink. But then again, few architects have the vision and worldliness like that of Sara Harrison Woodfield of Harrison Woodfield Architects, Inc., nestled in the Santa Rosa Valley of California. When a couple from Palm Springs approached the firm with a lot in picturesque Sonoma County and an open mind about what to put on it, Woodfield envisioned a home that was not like the neighbors’. “Before I can even see if my firm is a good fit for a project, I ask the client to fill out a questionnaire that is both informational and philosophical,” Woodfield said. “I asked both the husband and wife to fill out a separate questionnaire because though two people may live together, they did not grow up together and usually have different aspirations as to what a home should be.” In this instance, the art aficionado wife envisioned a bird hovering over the ground; and the retired banker husband, a light and airy retreat. They both wanted something that recalled their time spent in the desert climate of Palm Springs. Woodfield saw an opportunity to evoke the work of self-taught, iconic Mexican architect Luis Barragán, famous for minimalism and a use of bright colors. She invited
the couple to a special 100th anniversary showing of his work in Mexico as a jumping off point. “His strong Catholicism does come through in a lot of his work, so there is a sense that you are almost walking in a holy place – he actually designed a nunnery at one point,” Woodfield said. “But what we also found on our trip were some fantastic homes by contemporary Mexican architects who are reinventing Barragán. We liked mixing the two eras, but we are still speaking the same language.” Woodfield’s finished design, La Casa Paloma Blanca, or “the white dove house” in Spanish, was a perfect fit for the couple. The home, surrounded by lush greenery and native trees, is a monasterylike oasis with every feature the couple requested, including an outdoor dining room, spaces in which they could display their remarkable art collection and a bird watering hole. The husband requested that his office overlook a place for birds to commune and Woodfield designed the minimalist, black lava rock fountain herself. The fountain backs up to a bougainvillea pink wall that recalls the flora of Barragán’s home country. “There are a lot of water features that essentially cool off the feeling of a desert temperature,” Woodfield said. The home is bordered on one side by a tall but
PREVIOUS: La Casa Paloma Blanco is the name of the modern Mexican style residence inspired by the work of Luis Barragán. The residents envisioned a bird hovering above the ground when they began working with Harrison Woodfield Architects on the design. The simple, clean lines and open floorplan keep the focus on the natural beauty just outside. OPPOSITE: The custom designed mud room at La Casa Paloma Blanco is a favorite room for the residents. Here they clean up after gardening or swimming before entering the main house. The pebbled floor and extra large sink were chosen just for this purpose. Sara Woodfield designed the window which makes a latticelike pattern on the opposite wall when the sun is in line. ABOVE: The residents wanted a bird watering hole that they could watch just outside the home office. Woodfield took more inspiration from Barragán when designing the cobalt blue fountain.
September/October 2011 127