VIA CANTERA 

Imagine a home, gently embraced by the graceful limbs of oak trees and the firm grasp of ancient boulders. A home that is at one with the land—that responds joyously to the light and the climate and expresses the nature of its dramatic site. Famed architect Calvin Straub, who was highly influential in shaping the important “post-and-beam” movement of mid-century modern architecture, did imagine a home such as this, and in 1991 he designed Via Cantera, his last residential project. The boulder-strewn hillsides and stands of gnarled oaks, blazing Red Madrone trees and native plants had deterred other builders, but with a vision that stemmed from seeing natural elements as a way to inform the design, Straub, with the input of his clients, created a spectacular home that took root organically on the nine plus or minus acre property. Broad expanses of glass are intersected by the angular wooden posts and beams that create the iconic appearance and yield myriad views as distant as the Mayacamas Mountains across the valley and as immediate as the neon flash of a whirring hummingbird at a flower. Each room has an outlook that brings its own interpretation of the surroundings. The underlying design concept establishes a rhythm throughout the home that is sensed in the easy flow between spaces. Materials were carefully selected to enhance its relationship to the terrain: Raja slate from India graces the floors along with California oak hardwood. In the dining room and kitchen are luminous Brazilian Lila Gerais granite counters and Celadon slate tiles in the guest bath. The great room with its sweeping form is a half-level down from the main floor; its walls of glass joined by intervals of soft-edged stucco panels and burnished wood accents. Envisioned as a combination library and living area, the settings are defined by their orientation. High clerestory windows suffuse the room with natural light and recessed shelves and bookcases create a context for art and moments of vivid color in the library area. The mesmerizing views looking over the carved stone Koi ponds and burbling brooks outside encourage reflection and thoughtful contemplation. In the living area, a floor-to-ceiling fireplace brings the focus to conversation and friendly discussion. The contours of the hand-plastered fireplaces in the great room and the kitchen are suggestive of traditional native plaster or adobe design, a hallmark of Straub’s world-view of architecture. Another precept of Straub’s was to design for the climate. Wine country living is an indoor-outdoor lifestyle most of the year and the home takes full advantage of the benevolent weather with wide doorways to the many decks and courtyards. Double pane, lifetime windows and an overhang around the exterior of the house mean that the home is always a wonderfully comfortable temperature. Inside, there are five motorized skylights and the floors feature radiant heating. A step up from the living area leads to the dining room. Slate floors gleam softly in the diffuse sunlight from windows high above and from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Ten-foot glass doors open out to the multi-level decks of yellow cedar, mingling the pleasures of the gardens and ponds with the pleasant murmur of dinner guests at table. Glass front cabinets showcase fine glassware and deep drawers provide storage. The kitchen is accessed either from a panel doorway or through the atrium-like main corridor that runs the length of the house. Brazilian granite counters, rich-toned custom maple cabinetry and professional-grade appliances make this a cook’s delight, whether it’s dinner party with a private chef or an informal meal prepared with friends and family. The breakfast bar provides an agreeable setting for morning coffee or kibitzing with the cook. The kitchen’s open plan was fashioned to include the family room and a casual dining arrangement. The hand-plastered fireplace with its slate surround and hearth offers a cozy warmth in the morning or evening, and during the day, plentiful windows bring the outdoors in, creating a cheerful gathering place. The master suite is at the far end of the house, a magical space all its own: secluded and private, with angled glass walls and a door leading to a flagstone patio and the outdoor hot tub. Mature trees and sustainable landscaping surround the spa and stone paths meander through the grounds bordered by walls of rock retrieved from the turn-of-the-century quarry. A romantic fireplace adds to the enchantment, and screened windows open to the sounds of falling water in the natural carved rock ponds cascading outside. The master bath of granite and limestone has a jetted tub and an oversized limestone shower with glass block tiles and a bench seat. Double vanity areas have spacious walk-in closets and there is a separate bidet and water closet.