West Marin Ranch is located on a compound in Marin County, California, with a view to Mount Tamalpais. Designed by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects the ranch is designed with a multi structure centered around an outdoor gathering place – including a pool terrace. The design allows the various structures to shield the courtyard from the prevailing winds, while at the same time retaining the sun’s heat. Although the master suite and the social volume are not the same structure, an overhead bridge and large sliding barn doors leading to the inner courtyard connect them.
It’s a picturesque location and with the home positioned on the top of a grassy knoll, the ranch is the perfect gathering place for the homeowners and their extended family.
The exterior of West Marin Ranch is clad in Western Red Cedar while the roof is zinc. Stainless Steel sunshades protect the windows from solar heat gain and the large exterior sliding barn doors can be opened wide to extend the view or closed up tight to protect the inner courtyard from strong winds.
The courtyard is a serine and spacious setting designed for outdoor living. There is a cheerful al fresco dining area complete with eight sunny yellow chairs, a raised plunge pool and a hot tub nearby.
SWA Group Landscape Architects did an amazing and extensive job restoring the site with native project plantings. The result is so peaceful and relaxing that the homeowners must spend the majority of their time outdoors. But when it is time to head in, a door to the social volume is positioned just to the right of the seven windows.
The mudroom is not visible from the terrace entrance but is instead tucked around the corner in a small niche. Here, a bench offers a comfy place to take shoes on or off and the hooks above hold hats and jackets.
Downstairs is the kids’ zone, easily viewed from the upstairs hallway. A doorway off of the play area leads to a bedroom fitted with bunk beds and plenty of additional space to play games.
Back upstairs, the kitchen is a designed for food production with its over 10ft long island and back counter. This was important to the homeowner who can easily have 16 people staying at the house at one time.
Next to the kitchen is a spacious dining area with a table for 10 and next to that is a living area with seating for eight. But the really fun place to hang out is the wrap around bench that frames two sides of the living room.
The home is filled with inviting spots to read, play games or simply hang out. The furnishings where carefully designed by Jeannie Fraise of Lotus Biewu to reflect the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere that family gatherings are all about.
West Marin Ranch is a net-zero home fitted with a remote photovoltaic array to provide power. Other sustainable attributes are the high R-value insulation, reclaimed wood floors and radiant heat zones with passive cooling. There are also rainwater catchments used for toilet flushing.
Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects
