No Comments »

Accessible Formed Concrete Barn in California for a New York Loft Family

• Tweet

• Tweet

A family of New York City loft-dwellers made the cross country move to a new home they built in Sebastapol, 60 miles north of San Francisco.

Their disabled son determined the design brief for the architects – accessible open plan design on a single story.

The family now grows olives, wine and apples on their semi-rural farmland in the small town of Sebastopol.

Anderson Anderson Architects succeed in transplanting the open loft feeling to their new home in a Sonoma County orchard.

Embracing the local mores, the parents prepare and can large quantities of their own produce on an enormous hunk of wood – amusingly set on a trestle of flimsy blue metal.

Their new home is highly individual, and full of whimsical and practical touches.

While the structure is formed concrete, and the floors, polished concrete – intriguing antiques like these glass bookcases are juxtaposed against this backdrop.

A quirky steam-punk combination of practical 18th century open fire cooking implements work just as well in a 21st century formed concrete fireplace.

For this family, the kitchen really is the heart of the home.

Instead of drawers or cupboards, open shelving keeps everything accessible by wheelchair.

Formed concrete elements unify the house, and are used structurally both inside and out.

The formed concrete contrasts with homely touches like these sweet framed pictures.

Here one of the units becomes an outdoor shower.

Because the concrete is formed in rough wooden forms, it takes on the warm texture of the one foot wooden planks.

Each of these concrete units is used throughout the house, shaping structural components that are cast on site.

Combined with a rich wood trim – these doors are framed in reclamed redwood – this is a practical and simple way to build a wonderful home to grow a family.