WDA Honored with Merit Award by AIA San Francisco



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Press kit - Press release - WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects)


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WDA Honored with Merit Award by AIA San Francisco

Saint Helena, United States

WDA (William Duff Architects)

Big Ranch Road wins as “architecture for the soul and the mind”


San Francisco, United States, 2018-05-31 –

WDA (William Duff Architects) has been awarded a coveted Merit Award by the American Institute of Architects San Francisco (AIA SF) chapter for its daring and whimsical renovation of a Napa Valley rustic barn into a family retreat. WDA specializes in delivering thoughtful, innovative architecture across multiple sectors throughout the Bay Area.

 

An Ideal Fusion of Sustainability, Art and Architecture

Adventurous clients commissioned the unexpected transformation of the century-old former hay barn, an archetypal wine country form reflective of the region’s history. Noted art patrons, philanthropists and modern architecture connoisseurs, the couple loved the structure’s utilitarian form and sought to preserve it, while adapting the interior in a provocative way for contemporary use. Originally located on a seven-acre property in Napa Valley, the barn was relocated without any need for demolition and sited closer to the vineyard, surrounded by site-specific artwork.

 

Contemplation on Light

The crisp, pure sunlight of the region provided principal architect William Duff with the catalyst for the concept—contemplation on light. The barn’s wood-slatted shell acts as a screen through which sunbeams stream, splashing ever-changing patterns on the stained concrete floors. Inside, the architect inserted two new opposing glass volumes whose mirrored-walls flank the gathering space, reflecting the barn and the surrounding environment. At night, internal illumination turns the barn into a lantern.

 

Function Meets Transparency

Behind the mirrors are a bar, catering kitchen, personal gym, and restrooms. Seamless detailing and the innovative use of materials including industrial strength magnets and two-way glass allow these functional spaces to entirely disappear behind the walls. To maximize performance, all conditioned spaces are concentrated within the footprints of the glass volumes, eliminating the need to condition the entire barn.

 

At its essence, the design illustrates how layers of transparency can be employed to transform a formerly humble building into an object of art, and how with the right light, the everyday can be transformed into the extraordinary. For the design awards jury, the project represented “an absolutely exquisite use of an existing century-old hay barn” to produce “architecture for the soul and mind.” 

About WDA

WDA specializes in thoughtful, innovative architecture across the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. The firm’s elegant design solutions respond to their context with an artist’s understanding of when to use restraint or expression. With capabilities in multiple sectors, WDA is known for its award-winning and diverse portfolio of residential, workplaces, hospitality and retail environments.

www.wdarch.com | @wdarch_inc


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Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture -     WDA (William Duff Architects) transformed a century-old hay barn in a provocative way by inserting a pair of modern, glass cubes seen here reflecting the surrounding lush vineyards of its California wine country setting.    - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

WDA (William Duff Architects) transformed a century-old hay barn in a provocative way by inserting a pair of modern, glass cubes seen here reflecting the surrounding lush vineyards of its California wine country setting.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture -     The materials palette of glass, steel and concrete derives from the barn’s original low-maintenance siding and roof which over time had developed a weathered, protective patina.    - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

The materials palette of glass, steel and concrete derives from the barn’s original low-maintenance siding and roof which over time had developed a weathered, protective patina.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture -  The clients' goal was to preserve the barn and repurpose it as a place for gathering, as well as an expression of art.<br>  - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

The clients’ goal was to preserve the barn and repurpose it as a place for gathering, as well as an expression of art.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture -  The barn – relocated in its entirety to its current location on a seven-acre property in Napa Valley – sits atop a new concrete plinth that rises at either end to create seating areas.    - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

The materials palette of glass, steel and concrete derives from the barn’s original low-maintenance siding and roof which over time had developed a weathered, protective patina.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture - The original roof soars over a new pair of opposing glass cubes, enhancing the feeling of expansiveness.  - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

The original roof soars over a new pair of opposing glass cubes, enhancing the feeling of expansiveness.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture -  Behind the mirrored walls of the glass cubes are a bar, catering kitchen, gym, storage room, and restroom. - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

Behind the mirrored walls of the glass cubes are a bar, catering kitchen, gym, storage room, and restroom.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture - WDA designed for maximum building performance by concentrating all conditioned spaces within the footprints of a pair of new opposing glass volumes, while allowing for natural ventilation for the rest of the barn. - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

WDA designed for maximum building performance by concentrating all conditioned spaces within the footprints of a pair of new opposing glass volumes, while allowing for natural ventilation for the rest of the barn.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture - “The unique characteristics of the sunlight in the region inspired our design concept which is a contemplation of light, particularly how its movement throughout the day could be captured and reflected,” says WDA founder William Duff. - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

“The unique characteristics of the sunlight in the region inspired our design concept which is a contemplation of light, particularly how its movement throughout the day could be captured and reflected,” says WDA founder William Duff.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture -   The stained concrete floor provides a canvas for ever-changing patterns created by sunlight streaming through the barn’s wood-slatted shell.  - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

The stained concrete floor provides a canvas for ever-changing patterns created by sunlight streaming through the barn’s wood-slatted shell.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture -  As sunlight intensifies during the course of day, the pattern created evokes a modern light installation. - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

As sunlight intensifies during the course of day, the pattern created evokes a modern light installation.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture -   Seamless detailing incorporates steel as well as the innovative use of materials, both new and old.  - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

Seamless detailing incorporates steel as well as the innovative use of materials, both new and old.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture - Glass-clad volumes capture both light variations and the bucolic surroundings. - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

Glass-clad volumes capture both light variations and the bucolic surroundings.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture - The barn takes on a cozy vibe as day turns to dusk.  - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

The barn takes on a cozy vibe as day turns to dusk.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture - Surrounded by site-specific art works in its new location, “This once-humble barn also became for us, an object of art,” note the clients. - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

Surrounded by site-specific art works in its new location, “This once-humble barn also became for us, an object of art,” note the clients.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography

Press kit | 3353-01 - Press release | WDA Honoredwith Merit Award byAIA San Francisco - WDA (William Duff Architects) - Residential Architecture - The night sky combined with internal illumination reveals more of the barn’s archetypal wine country form. - Photo credit: Matthew Millman Photography

The night sky combined with internal illumination reveals more of the barn’s archetypal wine country form.

Photo credit:
Matthew Millman Photography



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