Amnesia House
On a Napa Valley hillside, Amnesia House looks out across rolling terrain. Embracing the site’s challenges, Edmonds + Lee Architects (ELA) designs a home that stands as a robust weekend retreat.
Amnesia House marks the second collaboration between ELA and the clients, following a San Francisco pied-à-terre. That project confirmed that the studio’s contemporary, context-driven approach aligned well with the family’s vision of a timeless residence – a design language defined by clarity and harmonious spatial arrangement. The same philosophy underpins their rural getaway, though here the conditions are more demanding. The house occupies a rugged, 7.5-hectare parcel, where steep slopes, setback limitations and erosion control measures shape the construction, and the risk of wildfires must be accounted for. To maximise buildable land, Amnesia House unfolds in long, narrow volumes that extend toward outdoor patios. Fire protection is integrated throughout, with sprinklers inside and out, while robust, fire-resistant materials fortify the structure.
Instead of the fire-treated timber originally considered, ELA clad the exterior walls in dual-layer Corten Steel. Though both materials age gracefully over time – the steel developing an attractive, rust-like patina – it is non-combustible and far more effective in protecting against wildfires. It’s also engineered to prevent structural gaps that could allow flames to enter the home. Visually, the steel plates are reminiscent of vertical timber planks and, combined with the gable roofs, evoke both Nordic cabins and the region’s wooden barns. Deep overhangs reinforce the familiar silhouette while shading the terrace.
Entering from the east, residents move through a glazed vestibule into open-plan living areas, private bedrooms and a western pool. Reinforcing the contemporary expression, the dwelling’s openings are framed in the same steel used on the exterior, complementing terrazzo-concrete floors and softly painted walls throughout. In the kitchen, elegant Danish millwork adds warmth to the restrained palette. Nearby is a bespoke light sculpture by Studio Drift; named Fragile Future, the chandelier floats above the dining table in an ethereal display of LEDs and preserved dandelion seeds.
Adapted to its rural setting, Amnesia House offers a peaceful encounter with California’s wine region. Guided by the site’s conditions, ELA has created a retreat designed to weather all seasons.
Architecture by Edmonds + Lee Architects. Build by Devlin McNally Construction. Landscape design by Ground Studio. Landscape construction by Dexter Estate Landscapes.
