After their home was destroyed by wildfire, an artist couple and their architect were looking for replacement housing. They turned to modular methods and prefabricated design as starting points, and then focused on sustainability and craft.

By economizing on size, making the spaces practical, and opening those spaces up as much as possible, they created a house that seems bigger than its actual size. Conceptually, two boxes make up the plan: one public box, wrapped in a custom-formed copper, for the kitchen/dining/living-room space, and one private box containing two bedrooms and two baths. The two boxes connect to create an entry, a gallery, and a screened porch. Unlike a hallway, this central area allows the house to be connected on all levels by circulation and light.

Plain drywall interiors were personalized using fairly simple but dramatic gestures: The drywall is interrupted by birchwood skins and recesses that wrap around the living room and form skylights, a stair, and a screened wall, providing a break from the otherwise mostly all-white palette. The house has a quiet feel without being sterile, allowing the artwork to shine.

Architect Alchemy, alchemyarch.com
Builder Plant Prefab, plantprefab.com
General contractor Redwood Builders, redwoodbuildersgc.com
Location Santa Rosa, Calif.
Photos Edward Caldwell Photography

RELATED STORIES

• A Modern and Affordable Prefab Home
• Small Prefab With a Big Impact
• Energy-Efficient Prefab Homes

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

A Field Guide to American Houses

If you want to plan, design, or remodel based on the vast tradition of American architectural styles you first have to understand their history, geography, architectural significance, and relationship to one another. This book can help with that.

Buy at Amazon

Code Check 10th Edition: An Illustrated Guide to Building a Safe House

It would be great if this book didn’t need to exist, but it's definitely a must-have. It's a one-size-fits-all code book that's easy to understand and will help you sail through your inspections.

Buy at Amazon

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave

Joanna Gaines may have started as a celebrity designer on HGTV, but she’s proven to be the real deal. This book help you understand how and why good design works so that you can recreate it on your own.

Buy at Amazon