Two Winemakers Build a Compact, Fire-Resistant Home With an Earthy Palette

Kelly Dawson
·1 min read

In Healdsburg, California, a couple hire TenBooks and Social Studio to create a resilient vineyard house with a ground-floor tasting room.

The mid-section of the siding was done in a shou-sugi ban method. Custom brass was used for the awning, alongside a standing-seam metal roof.
The mid-section of the siding was done in a shou-sugi ban method. Custom brass was used for the awning, alongside a standing-seam metal roof.

Jill and Mike Lucia have a deep appreciation for Northern California’s land. As the owners of the Rootdown and Cole Ranch wine labels, the couple pay close attention to region’s fickle fog, sun-dappled hills, and ocean air. "Mike is a winemaker, and his philosophy is to let the wines lead with earth and texture, rather than just with fruit," says architect Matthew David Bowles, founder of the firm TenBooks. "His style is decidedly hands-off, which allows the grape and the specific terrain to speak for itself."

Evan Schivley of Arborica milled a custom board-and-batten shape for the home, which is cladded in reclaimed Monterrey cyprus.
Evan Schivley of Arborica milled a custom board-and-batten shape for the home, which is cladded in reclaimed Monterrey cyprus.
The mid-section of the siding was done in a shou-sugi ban method. Custom brass was used for the awning, alongside a standing-seam metal roof.
The mid-section of the siding was done in a shou-sugi ban method. Custom brass was used for the awning, alongside a standing-seam metal roof.

Jill owns a namesake interior design studio, and she was already close friends with Bowles and architectural designer Erik Kramer of Social Studio when she and her husband came across an established property in the foothills of Healdsburg in 2021. They were ready to start a family, and this home seemed like it had the potential to blend their love of the area with their future plans.

Cement plaster was used on the base of the exterior, with double-paned windows throughout.
Cement plaster was used on the base of the exterior, with double-paned windows throughout.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Two Winemakers Build a Compact, Fire-Resistant Home With an Earthy Palette
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