Gonzales Bay Grotto

Clients
Greenway Studio Architecture + Integrated Arts
Frontera Homes

In this remarkable project, which was voted as one of Dwell Magazine’s ‘Most Popular Houses Of 2023’, Architect Bruce Greenway was tasked with adding an extension to a home perched on bedrock. The solution was to use rock fragments from the bedrock to construct a gracefully curving wall that extended into the house, thus enabling the creation of a private wing, designed for both work and leisure.

Inside, local Douglas fir was the main material used. A bespoke maple table served as a work-from-home hub or a gathering spot. Connecting doors, with floor-to-ceiling glass, allowed the new space to be bathed in natural light. Douglas fir was also used to create unique light fixtures to adorn the space.

Generous overhangs and thick insulation were used to ensure year-round comfort, regardless of weather conditions. Also, to satisfy the homeowners’ love of the sound of rainwater splashing onto the rock, a trickling fountain feature was crafted – one that collected and recycled rainwater from the rooftop, which then was sent down a spout onto the bedrock.

The new addition also features a “living roof” incorporating native mosses, grasses, sedums, and other indigenous plant life.

To see photos from the rest of this project, please click here.