LAKE NACIMIENTO RESIDENCE
Lake Nacimiento, CA
6,432 SF
Designed for a passionate admirer of this region’s landscape and an avid helicopter pilot, this vacation home near Lake Nacimiento is built into — rather than on top of — the rolling hills. The design takes its cues from the site’s sloping topography, nestling the home into a bluff so that the living spaces unfold down the hill. This creates total seclusion from the road and opens commanding views from the house over the surroundings.
INTEGRATING THE HOUSE INTO THE LANDSCAPE
From the road, the house appears as a low-slung, opaque volume that peeks above the top of the bluff. Around back, the house’s shifting volumes define an outdoor lounge and terrace that overlook the nearby hills. Floor-to-ceiling windows create a sense of interconnection between this outdoor space and the interior living areas. A wall built of locally-quarried stone separates the master suite from these more public areas, generating a sense of privacy and creating a more secluded terrace off the master bedroom.
OPENING THE INTERIORS TO THE SURROUNDINGS
At the center of the plan, a soaring great room offers a place for the client to host dinners and entertain guests. Separated from the great room by sliding glass doors, a pool and patio extend the main living areas into the backyard, further blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor space.
PASSIVE TEMPERATURE CONTROL
The house is designed to regulate internal temperature passively, reducing overall energy consumption. The south-facing facade — which gets the most sunlight — is clad in white fiber cement that reflects heat and minimizes solar gain. On the north side, thick plaster walls enclose the living spaces. These walls help regulate interior temperature by absorbing heat from the air during the hot summer days and releasing it into the house during the cool nights.
Project Type Residential
Location Lake Nacimiento, California, USA
Project Size 6,432 SF
Completion Date Unbuilt
Services Architecture, Programming
Architect Tim Gorter Architects
Geotechnical Engineer Hallin Geotechnical Services, LLC
Land Surveyor Mark Lewis Land Surveys