A Small Modern Home Overlooks Olive Trees in Sonoma by Cooper Joseph Studio

Cooper Joseph Studio, formerly Wendy Joseph Evans Architecture, has designed this small 850 square guest house in the Dry Creek area of Sonoma. Located on a terraced hill, the modern structure overlooks a field of olive trees and is nestled amongst lavender and rosemary. The home was designed for two scientists who grow olives and make olive oil, keep bees and produce honey, garden and many other endeavors that take advantage of the area’s climate, soils and site.















Situated at the top of an olive orchard, the exposure faces north, taking advantage of the breezes, and shade from existing forests to the south. Exploiting an existing open area with particularly hard clay soils, no trees were removed. The goal was to create an energy efficient, compact dwelling where the clients could sit in shaded areas, entertain friends with their own food production, and enjoy the wonderful views across agricultural lands. The 30-foot-high concrete wall dividing the house was a technical achievement, according to the architects. The home also has a solar array for power and a high albedo [surface reflection] roof.













The interior:















Site plans and architectural drawings:











Small House, 2011

Sonoma, CA





Client: Charles Homcy / Diana Sylvestre



Architect: Cooper Joseph Studio, New York



Design Principal: Wendy Evans Joseph, Chris Cooper



Project Architects: Wendy Evans Joseph and Chris Cooper



Project Manager: Chris Good



Project Team: Chris Good and Farzana Gandhi



Architect of Record: Richardson Architects



Structural Engineer: Tysinger & Associates Structural Engineers



Landscape Architect: Jacobsen Landscaping



Interior Designer: Cooper Joseph Studio



Contractor: Red Horse Construction



Construction Manager: David Warner



Zinc Siding: VM Zinc



Composite Decking: Timber Deck



Resin: 3-Form



Counter Tops: Caeserstone



Oak Millwork: Custom-stained Oak



Site Area: 25 Acres



Building Area: 850 sq. ft. enclosed



For more information regarding the building process and materials, see this post at The Contemporist.



Additional photos courtesy of Elliott Kaufman Photography, additional information courtesy of California Architects



Cooper Joseph Studio

A Supersized Solar-Powered Catamaran, The Turanor PlanetSolar

M/S TÛRANOR PlanetSolar is a multihull vessel topped by a large array of photovoltaic solar panels, constructed by Knierim Yacht Club, in Kiel, Germany. Built in 14 months, the biggest ever solar boat has impressive dimensions but is both silent and clean.









The multihull will be home to six sailors during the round-the-world attempt, and can accommodate up to forty people during the promotional trips planned at each port of call.











On its round-the-globe expedition, the TÛRANOR* PlanetSolar will pioneer the use of sustainable energy technology on water. It is different from anything that has happened in the field of mobility to date. This solar catamaran uses the very latest cutting-edge technology available on the market. The intention is to demonstrate that high-performance solar mobility can be realized today by making innovative use of existing materials and technology.













The ideal shape and size of the boat for the chosen route was determined by in-depth research. The PlanetSolar engineers have to factor in a host of parameters – propulsion, solar panel design, energy storage, materials and the external environment.







A whole range of studies will need to be conducted in areas such as the boat’s hydro and aerodynamics, the materials used, the management and storage of energy and, finally, the power plant and optimal routing. It is a concentration of futuristic technology.



* The name TÛRANOR is derived from the “Lord of the Rings” saga by J.R.R. Tolkien and translates as “the power of the sun” and "victory".



Technology







PlanetSolar is a catamaran that runs solely on the energy found in light. Additional removable parts allow it to expose a total of 537 m2 of photovoltaic modules (solar panels) to the sun. This impressive data makes it the biggest solar-powered ship in the world.



Legnth: 31 m

Width: 15 m

Length with flaps: 35 m

Width with flaps: 23 m

Height: 6.1 m

Draft: 1.55 m

Weight: 95 t

Surface area of solar modules: 537 m2

PV panel efficiency: 18.8%

Installed PV power: 93.5 kW (127.0 hp)

Average engine consumption: 20 kW (26.8 hp)

Crew: 6 people

Number of people that can go on board: 40

Autonomy: never-ending solar navigation







Information and images courtesy of PlanetSolar

The Baby C Cradle - A Modern Walnut Wood Interior Womb For Infants

The Baby C is a modern cradle inspired by the warm, closed environment of a mother’s womb. With a polyethylene shell and a walnut wood interior, the cradle comes with a specially designed mattress:

























earlier in the design progress:









Designed by Dripta Roy, co-founder of Puur Design Studio. Available in Europe this fall for €2650 + taxes, by winter in North America—can be pre-ordered at [email protected]