Aidlin Darling Design has completed a nexus for family living comprising a constellation of three minimal structures nestled into the existing terrain and boasting sprawling panoramic views of the surrounding Napa landscape. 

Perched on ten acres in the hills overlooking Napa Valley, this rural homestead was designed for a family of three seeking a more peaceful life away from the city.

After a wildfire destroyed Aidlin Darling Design’s original, mid-construction design, the family was determined to rebuild the modern, resilient home that embraces the agrarian vernacular of the father’s European roots. 

The homestead is a catalyst and foundation for the life changes its clients are undertaking: a mother’s switch from a law career to a lifelong passion for farming; a father entrepreneur returning to the agrarian lifestyle of his rural European roots; and an adolescent son who thrives in pastoral settings.

For its inspired design and attention to detail within the natural environment, Three Gables has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The family selected a hilltop site filled with oak trees and rock outcroppings that offers panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards and undulating terrain.

The home is formed by a triad of structures inspired by the traditional clusters of farm buildings found throughout Napa Valley.

Its gable roof references the agrarian vernacular of both Napa Valley and the father’s childhood in the Welsh Countryside.

The exterior palette is primarily composed of concrete and steel, both of which are inherently fire-resistant materials.

Finely crafted, board-formed concrete makes up the building’s stout base and the majority of its walls.

The standing seam metal, gabled roofs shed rainwater and deflect potential sparks blown in from distant fires. 

The open-air entry sequence consists of a corrugated metal roof, painted steel structure, and Corten steel landscape walls.

This sheltered walkway provides welcome shade nine months out of the year, while strategically framing the surrounding landscape views.

The interior’s meticulously crafted oak cabinets, ceilings, and floors complement the concrete and steel structure.

A taut, minimalist approach to the interior details pervades the home, with custom steel, stainless steel, and bronze cabinetry sprinkled throughout.

Functioning both as storage areas and as the home’s delicate, tertiary scale, this steel casework serves as complementary jewelry adorning the more robust, industrial framework. 

Given that both parents are both gourmet chefs who love cooking elaborate meals for their friends and family, the kitchen and dining room are designed as the heart of the home.

The couple insisted on a workspace that could withstand the beating of a typical industrial kitchen; thus, custom, stainless-steel cabinetry by Abimis was in order.

Two large portals that grace the dining room’s east and west elevations open to create a cabana-like entertaining venue during temperate seasons.

Two steel cantilevered decks are direct extensions of the main living area.

These verandas are clad in aluminum grating to further mitigate the exterior’s flammability. 

Inside, the living room’s wrap-around glazing frames year-round views of the adjacent vineyards.

The master suite is separated by a courtyard that provides light, air, and views into the center of the home while creating a private bedroom sanctuary.

The lowest floor incorporates two additional bedroom suites divided by a casual media room.

Each of the home’s gabled structures contains a study for each respective family member.

In the main house, the top floor is designed as an open loft for the son to use as a study and craft room.

The wife’s office is in a separate loft space accessed by a rooftop bridge. The treehouse-like space provides a quiet, biophilic retreat.

The father’s office is located in the garage. The interior is treated as a glowing white prism with glazing facing both east and west.

This triptych of individual work environments provides the family members with secluded spaces for thinking and creating, while the kitchen, dining, and living rooms embrace the essence of bonding and sharing. 

Complementing the main house on the farmstead are two structures.

The first is a utilitarian Butler building clad in Corten steel.

This workshop is located in the valley of the site, which opens to the property’s vast garden and fruit orchard.

The second farmstead formation—comprised of an infinity-edge pool, hot tub, and hidden pool house—is focused on leisure.

All three south-facing components embrace panoramic views of Napa Valley.

Project: Three Gables Napa Valley, California, USA | 2021 Architects: Aidlin Darling Design Design Team: Joshua Aidlin, Peter Larsen, Ryan Hughes, Mason Hayes, Cherie Lau, Tory Wolcott Green, Michael Pierry, and Sean Kakigi General Contractor: Grassi & Associates Client: Private Photographer: Matthew Millman

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