Lodi Bunkhouse
St. Helena, Calif.
Kuth Ranieri Architects

An industrial shed takes on fresh life with its new luminous cover

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above.

This 4,700 square-foot project involves the conversion of an existing industrial shed into informal living quarters for an extended family, which includes four bedrooms and a large communal area for gatherings. The long, narrow property is located between an abandoned rail line and the Napa River, bordering neighboring vineyards. It parallels rivers, rail easements, roadways, and mountain ranges. The project’s planning, fenestration, and wall assembly speak to the site’s inherent qualities of directionality and scale, and connect the building with the landscape.

The existing shed structure is reinforced by adding an exoskeletal structure and skin assembly of wood and fiberglass, draped over the existing canopy. An additional bay to the south extends the form, providing an open, informal shaded area for parking and outdoor activities. The introduction of an axial void down the center reinforces the new roof canopy and spatially connects the landscape to the north and south.

The building’s exterior is composed of a skin of semi-transparent fiberglass panels, revealing a network of cavities composed of structure, systems, and aperture. These components define a surface that is in constant flux relative to its environment. Framing, cavity, fenestration, insulation, and mechanical systems are exposed just beneath the surface. The primary objective is to create an armature for the internal play of light and shade, a luminous ensemble of muted solids and voids.

Formal name of building:
Lodi Bunkhouse

Location:
St. Helena, Calif.

Gross Square Footage:
4,700 sq. ft.

Owner:
Marion Greene

Architect:
Kuth Ranieri Architects
340 Bryant St. #300
San Francisco, CA 94107

Project Team:
Byron Kuth, Elizabeth Ranieri (Partners-in-charge)
Tim Rouch (Project Manager)
Brian Milman, Claudia Merzario, Andrew Dunbar (design team)

Engineer:
Simpson, Gumpertz and Heger, Inc. Consulting Engineers

Contractor:
Cello and Maudru Construction

Renderer(s):
Tim Rouch

CAD system, project management, or other software used:
VectorWorks www.nemetschek.net, FormZ www.formz.com