Tim Griffith
The teahouses sit high up on a hillside and are buffered by foli…
The architect of these pristine outbuildings, Robert Swatt, describes them as “a campground where you’re out in nature.” Board-formed concrete cores tie the three glass-and-steel structures to their hillside sites, creating a tension between heavy and light. The concrete pieces also handle vertical and seismic loads, freeing up the glass and steel portions of the project to float unencumbered above the earth.
Each building serves a different purpose. One stands off by itself and provides a place to meditate. A full bath connects the other two, which function as a sleeping space and a work area. Unfinished cedar floorboards reclaimed from the remodeled main house team with the rough concrete to create a contrast to the glass walls’ smooth fluidity. “It’s the utterly natural versus the crisp,” Swatt explains. He purposely limited the overall palette to just a few materials—glass, concrete, wood, and steel—to maintain its sense of calm.
The judges responded enthusiastically. “It’s just wonderful,” said one. “Such clean lines—so strong. A beautiful project.”
Product Credits
Entrant/Architect:Swatt | Miers Architects, Emeryville, Calif.
Builder: Neto Builders, Los Gatos, Calif.
Interior designer: Connie Wong, San Jose, Calif.
Living space: 1,364 square feet
Site: 2 acres
Construction cost: Withheld
Photographer: Tim Griffith
