Art, wine, gorgeous vineyard views and the forms and colors of nearby rural buildings were the inspiration behind the design of this 5,895-square-foot private residence, gallery and studio in Napa Valley, Calif.

Winner of the 2010 BALA Best in Pacific Region and Platinum Award in the One-of-a-Kind Custom Home 4,001-6,500-square-foot category, the home’s collection of shed and gable structures — with finishes selected to complement the owner’s urban aesthetic — were designed and created to blend simplicity and sophistication and to connect to the land.

Masonry walls add drama and texture to the front entrance.

Disappearing Boundaries       

Because the owner wanted to display his extensive art and wine collection without sacrificing vineyard views, the variety of structures were pulled apart to create numerous gallery spaces and framed views, while also allowing the landscape to figuratively enter the home.

The vineyard, too, became part of the owner’s art and wine “collection” as interior and exterior boundaries disappeared through the use of wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glazing.

The masonry accent extends to the patio and pool area in the rear of the home.

Interior and Exterior Walls, Yin and Yang

Masonry walls reinforce this concept, with walls starting as a backdrop at the car court and traveling through the primary public spaces before exiting along the face of the master bedroom. Clerestory glass sits above the walls — offering views of the sky and eaves as the ceiling extends out past the windows.

These walls serve as the spine of the house plan. Viewed from all the major spaces, they provide a visual contrast to the smooth and crisp, interior display walls.

Climbing three stories to the covered deck on the wine tower is rewarded with a panoramic view of the vineyard and valley.

A Panoramic View

The heart of the home is its wine tower. Similar in style but not function to a water tower, the tower was built with 18-inch thick insulated walls and stores more than 3,000 bottles of wine. A three-story staircase bordered by the wine storage courses up to an observation deck — with a built-in refrigerator, music system and heating and storage — that provides 270-degree views of the vineyard.

Solar panels, which are used to power all the home's electricity, track the sun.

A Home With a Brain

This home has a brain. Pedestal-mounted solar panels track the sun and provide energy for the radiant floor heating system and all electrical needs. Low e-glazing, high-efficiency insulation and sun-control shading systems maintain interior temperatures.

The great room/dining area affords ample opportunity for viewing the owner's art collection and outdoor vistas.

More than 3,000 bottles of wine are stored in the wine tower.

Rural shapes, forms and colors blend with the owner's urban aesthetic in this award-winning custom home.

First floor Click for larger view.

Second floor

Features and Specifications

Design Team Architect, designer and land planner — Dahlin Group Architecture Planning, Pleasanton, Calif. Builder — Grassi & Associates, Inc., Napa, Calif. Interior designer — InDesign One, Los Gatos, Calif. Photos: Christopher Mayer Features Three-bedroom, 5,895-square-foot home with gallery and studio Three-story wine tower with 18-inch thick insulated walls that can store more than 3,000 bottles of wine Gallery spaces to display extensive art collection Multi-structure floor plan to provide optimal framed views of vineyard and Napa Valley Clerestory glass above walls for sky views Three-car garage Swimming pool Energy Efficiency Pedestal-mounted solar panels track the sun and provide electrical power for the house Radiant floor heating system Low e-glazing windows High-efficiency insulation Sun-controlled shading systems to maintain interior temperatures