Pocket Ranch Road

On a remote hillside estate near Geyserville, new owners envisioned a serene lap pool with panoramic valley views. A decaying house was sacrificed to make way for the pool, but a small adjacent barn called out for preservation and reuse. The barn’s location was closer to the property line than would be allowed today, with its high ceiling rumored to be the result of the original owner’s rocket building hobby.

We aimed to leverage the barn's exceptional height and location to create a dramatic transformation. Our design focused on maximizing transparency at the lower level to highlight extraordinary views. The double-high space allowed for the integration of vertical-lift garage doors, which, when open, stack above the upper floor walls, creating a seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces.

The building's design clearly expresses its function: the transparent walls on the lower floor provide optimal views for the gathering space, while the solid walls of the upper floor ensure privacy and structural stability. A steel-supported, wood-slatted canopy further emphasizes the distinction between the upper and lower sections of the building and provides essential shading for the large glass openings.