michael john vivien architect
residential
sunset magazine idea house
carmel, california
This 5,600 square foot 2008 Sunset Magazine Idea House is an eco-friendly, GreenPoint Rated home nestled into the rolling hills of Californiaʼs Central Coast in Carmel. Itʼs architectural form is influenced by Central Coast building traditions dating from the Spanish Hacienda period to present day. Consisting of three iconic structures loosely connected by walled courtyards, three histories were created about the site in order to define the overall architectural character. By design, “old” ranch buildings appear to have been restored and repurposed with new energy technologies and sustainable materials. A solar thermal system warms radiant floors for comfort and efficiency. A photo-voltaic panel array is seemlessly integrated into the Carriage House standing seam metal roof to generate electricity. Cisterns collect reclaimed rainwater to irrigate a restored meadow and landscape of native plants. Reclaimed timbers and old growth redwood barn siding are reutilized with Structural Insulated Panels and manufactured trusses. Energy Star rated windows, lighting and appliances improve energy efficiency and low VOC paints and sealants improve indoor air quality. Naturally Daylit spaces combine with the indoor/outdoor spatial relationships to connect the inhabitants to the many courtyards and views of the Monterey Bay beyond.
Project completed for:
Thomas Bateman Hood Architects
Sunset Magazine
white residence
murphys, california
This 3,200 sf house is carefully sited into the Sierra Nevada foothills of California's historic Calaveras County, an area steeped in Gold Rush history between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. Designed as an eventual retirement home for a San Francisco Bay Area couple, the house seemlessly blends into the rugged landscape and becomes a simple gesture to the views beyond. The house is designed to meet the strict Title 24 codes in the fire hazard severity zone of the Wildland Urban Interface. The clients main wish was to have all living spaces on the same level, a challenging process for a hillside site with a continuous slope of 35%.