Project: California Equestrian Lodge
Location: Lake County, California, USA
Size: 1570 m2
Status: Project
Partners: Juan Ignacio Ramos & Ignacio Ramos
As part of the Guenoc & Napa Valley Project, the Polo and Equestrian Development is located in Lake County, California. The California Equestrian Resort includes a polo and equestri- an club, a lodge and a residential development.
We were captivated by the beauty of the site, with its moun- tains, meadows and lakes. The first goal was to absorb and understand the essence of the place in order to relate the project to the context and reduce the impact of the construction on the environment.
The proposed architecture has a pure and simple language. The intention was to make the buildings blend with the land- scape with the use of earth berms and planted roofs, as well as local stone, exposed concrete and local hardwood.
As a precious element in this area, water is present in the design of all the buildings.
THE LODGE
The Lodge was strategically located on one of the highest points of the property to provide a bird’s eye view of the entire Polo and Equestrian Development. The building was conceived as two perpendicular volumes, one sitting on top of the other.
The lower level accommodates six bedrooms and a court- yard, carved into the mountain slope, that provides natural light and privacy to the hallways. All the bedrooms face the stunning views of the valley. The second level accommodates the lobby and the living and dining areas. The cantilevered structure suggests the idea of being suspended in the air. The bedrooms’ planted roof becomes an expansion of the common spaces of the second floor and ends with a swimming pool.
As part of The Lodge and with the same aesthetic premises, we designed 12 cottages, embedded in the topography.