Project Description
2004 CHDA
Custom Detail / Merit Award
Utility buildings, those bit players on the architectural scene, are seldom the occasion for innovative work. This simple but elegant work building, on the grounds of a private vineyard, is a refreshing exception. Comprising two bays separated by an open dog-trot, the building houses two functions—vehicle storage and wine production. To provide natural light for both without the use of conventional windows, architect John Vetter developed a wall section that employs an extruded polycarbonate sheet over open cedar 2×4 framing. Cedar 6×6 columns at corners and at the half-bay points provide lateral rigidity, compensating for the lack of structural sheathing. Spaced, horizontal cedar 1x6s overlay the polycarbonate material, filtering the daylight and giving the building an intriguing combination of openness and shelter. Our judges noted the simplicity and apparent effectiveness of the flashing details and agreed that the design as a whole delivers both functionality and pleasing aesthetics with a remarkable economy of means.