arroyo oak house unfolds elongated zinc and wood volume on the californian mountains

Arroyo Oak House overlooks Sierra Pelona Mountains

Aaron Neubert Architects takes over the construction of Arroyo Oak House, an elongated residence that unfolds pavilion-like structures on the natural terrain of Castaic, California. Sitting lightly on the landscape, the house engages with the scenery, overlooking the Sierra Pelona mountains, situated on rugged sandstone terrain, bisected by a dry river, and dotted with native yucca, oak, sagebrush, and beavertail cactus. Optimizing the connection to the topography and the semi-arid environment, multiple interlocking program-specific pavilions are oriented across the site. The placement and overlap of the forms result in varying scales of gardens, terraces, and decks, integrating the natural element into the interior and providing panoramic views and sunlight distribution. The structure extends an elongated volume of two levels clad in zinc and wood.

all images by Brian Thomas Jones

split-level volume expands into exterior terraces

Upon approach, the design team at Aaron Neubert Architects presents an elevated, horizontally-clad zinc volume, that stands both transparent to focus attention on the distant ridgelines and semi-reflective to capture the impression of the skyscape. Below the elevated mass, the living level displays primary apertures located on the perimeter and secondary fissures between the pavilions with views toward the distinct mountains. Split-level interior spaces expand into exterior terraces, merging the domestic environment with the rural landscape. The lower level, arranging a home gym, laundry room, guest suite, and pool terrace, extends into the hillside providing an unobstructed panoramic vista. The continuous materiality of cedar and limestone accentuates the experiential relationship between inside and out.

multiple interlocking program-specific pavilions are oriented across the site

The connection between the interior and the exterior is retained on the upper level, which organizes the primary bedroom, home office, two secondary bedrooms, linear balcony, and lounge deck. The pool terrace and adjacent open-air living room unfold onto the meadow and ultimately the arroyo below, augmenting a natural, preexisting path for animals with a minimally delineated walking loop with which to explore the site. The fire susceptible landscape, the unique climate, solar, and seasonal conditions, inquire careful positioning of the structure, as well as consideration of plant specifications and irrigation requirements.

the overlap of the pavilions results in the formation of gardens, terraces, and decks

the open levels fuse the structure with nature and provide panoramic views and sunlight

split-level interior spaces expand into exterior terraces toward the rural landscape

on the upper level, a linear balcony, and lounge deck expand toward the distinct ridgeline

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project info:

name: Arroyo Oak House
designer: [ANX] Aaron Neubert Architects | @anx_architecture

design team: Aaron Neubert, Jina Seo, Jeremy Limsenben, Eric Nulman

structural engineer: Craig Phillips Engineering

location: Castaic, California, US

photography: Brian Thomas Jones | @brianthomasjonesphotography

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom