Sonoma WeeHouse
Santa Rosa
Alchemy Architects
DESIGNER: Alchemy Architects BUILDER: Alchemy Architects BUILD DATE: 16th Nov 2016
LOCATION: Santa Rosa, United States PHOTO CREDITS: Alchemy Architects RATING: 5 Stars
The Sonoma weeHouse was based on Alchemy’s original weeHouse, designed in Minnesota for a client in San Francisco, built in Oregon, and then shipped to its Santa Rosa, CA site 90% complete. The client, an architect himself and Apple’s Senior Design Director, Real Estate and Development, was the project’s co-pilot with Geoffrey C. Warner, principal architect of the firm Alchemy.
"The project proved to be a best-case scenario for illustrating the efficiencies of prefabrication."
Build Method
Two open-sided minimalist volumes clad in weathering (Corten) steel sit above individual concrete plinths, positioned very nicely on the site in balance with each other – one set on a cantilever forward and the other back further.
"The valley is rich with vineyards, a state and a regional park, and the town of Santa Rosa," said the architects. "Maintaining expansive views was paramount to the client."
The larger one, which encompasses 640 square feet (59.5 square meters), originally the sole part of the house, includes an open-plan kitchen and dining space in addition to a pod like bedroom (bedbox) and WC.
Another "abridged version of the larger module" built later lies 15 feet (4.5 meters) away and is more secluded for the parents. It features a whitewashed oak wardrobe that creates a wall for the bathroom. In addition to providing privacy, this feature also acts as a storage unit. The simple boxes both feature large glass facades on each front and rear elevation.
"Full-height sliding glass walls are set into custom corrugated weathering steel boxes," said the firm. "Ipe finishes with oiled oak cabinetry form the interiors."
"Each weeHouse is a compact, economical design that celebrates 'the luxury of less,’" according to the designers.
Interbode Thoughts
There isn’t much wee about the weeHouse. It packs a powerful design punch. The house completed in 2015 is built with the intent to minimize costs and onsite assembly. Admittedly this isn’t a shipping container(!) but it deserves inclusion in our cargotecture library and is worth attention by the Interbode Design Studio and even fabrication by our team. What we really enjoy about this build is the curated relationship between the modules, extensive use of blackbutt timber contrasting with the neat whitewashed bedroom pod and the ability to fully open the glazing on both sides to allow great Wind Effect ventilation. The Cost for weeHouse is $550,00 for the modules themselves and $150,000 for site work.
SONOMA WEEHOUSE DESIGNS
Sonoma WeeHouse Plans
High Level Architectural plans of the Sonoma WeeHouse by Interbode’s design workshop.
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