Designed near the town of Bolinas for a noted pianist and patron of the arts, Briarcombe was conceived as a primary residence for the owner and as a small arts community with an ongoing artist-in-residence program. The project was built over several years and included the main residence and four dramatic studios that served painters, sculptors, writers, and musicians and accommodated showings, readings and concerts.
All buildings were timber framed in old growth Redwood recycled from the Hammond Mill near Arcata on Northern California, dismantled years earlier but amazingly still available. Their roofs we laminated using 2X lumber recycled from a northern California Army Base. Bolinas is a fishing village with an artistic community which worked well with the residence program at Briarcombe. I was able to work with local boat builders, artisans and furniture makers to detail and the craft some very unique buildings as well as many of the interior furnishings to create an award-wining project.
