Gabled buildings wrapped in aged wood form this unique, environmentally-friendly estate, designed by Field Architecture to maximize its setting above California’s gorgeous Napa Valley, thus creating the ideal Wine Country retreat. The compound, Sentinel Ridge, is located above St. Helena on Howell Mountain, which rises over 1,600 feet above the famed valley with breath-taking views that capture the region’s beauty. 

The agrarian-styled residence was designed for a couple seeking a serene refuge from their home in the American Midwest suburbs. Creating a building that embraced the picturesque scenery was a priority for the design team.

"The characteristics of the site – the slender plateau that overlooks the valley, the subterranean rock formation along the brow of the plateau, the juxtaposition of forest and vineyard – inspired a careful weaving of form that highlights the landscape," said Field Architecture spokesperson, who worked on the project with landscape architects, Roche and Roche, and interior designer Erin Martin.

The home consists of three gabled-roof edifices laid out on an east-west axis. Exterior walls are clad in reclaimed Douglas fir, with lines that lead the eye to the pitched roofs made of standing-seam metal. With over 3,600 square feet of gracious living space, the property seamlessly combines elegance and nature in an organic blend of both. The material choices were influenced by Field Architecture's view of sustainability as a critical component in the design and building process, helping to connect the dwelling to its natural setting.

Taking cues from the color of the soil, tan stucco was also used for certain portions of the facades. The sections are joined by a plinth, which ultimately connects to the outdoors. Graceful steps lead down to the soft edge of a vista point that dramatically captures the beauty of the valley below. An exterior colonnade made of wood and steel weaves everything together. The colonnade becomes an outdoor room eventually leading into the center of the residence through a tall opening that ascends to the roofline, reflecting the surrounding evergreens and oaks.

An ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard producing wines with multiple 98-point scores makes the vineyard a viable singular asset, though when included in the overall estate it creates a most desirable investment.

The central structure contains an expansive entertaining space, where large, sliding doors can be opened to provide a powerful connection to the surrounding vineyard and forest. The centerpiece of the room is a massive dining table made of repurposed materials. The table can glide along curved tracks cast into the concrete floor, and function as a dining table or a tasting table for the adjacent wine cellar. A spiral staircase leads to a mezzanine, where a space called "the perch" serves as the current owner’s office.

The home's west wing contains a living room, kitchen and primary suite, while the east side encompasses three en suite bedrooms. Sliding glass doors help minimize the distinction between inside and outdoor living spaces.

The home's overall design – a careful and studied blending of interior and exterior – always brings the attention back to the perfection of the land outside. A system of trails through the forest connects the compound to a native meadow and a reclaimed-steel fire pit with Adirondack seating for eight.

Built in 2016, Sentinel Ridge received a 2020 Merit Award in the Residential Design category from the Northern California Chapter of the ASLA. The property is featured on the cover of the coffee table book Wine Country Living, published by Rizzoli New York in 2020.

Field Architecture has been recognized with the AIA California Council’s Residential Honor Award for Sentinel Ridge, which has been featured in Luxe Magazine and Architect Magazine.  It was also one of the two Erin Martin Design projects featured in Andrew Martin’s Interior Design Review World’s Top 100 Designers, in which Erin Martin was named Interior Designer of the Year. 

Awards: 

2020 ASLA NCC Merit Award – Residential Design Category

Architecture:  Field Architecture

Interior Design:  Erin Martin Design

Construction:  Grassi & Associates

Landscape Construction:  Dexter Estate Landscapes