Meander House

Image :
Residence view bedroom wing

Meander House

This home tucks into and thrust outward upon its ridgetop setting reflecting the natural geologic process that formed the landscape of this place. The building forms provide a poetic response echoing the coastal hill environment of rocky outcrops, swaying grasslands and expressive watershed courses.

The multiple living roofscapes were designed to mimic the surrounding terrain. On the lower wing of the house an extensive wildland meadow roams while an occupiable rooftop patio expresses the terraforms of rugged native stonecrops and meandering dry creeks that are interplanted with the flora of this bioregion.

Utilizing the building envelope as a mean to construct spaces of nature (not isolated from) the occupants experience a home naturalize in a seamless way as it offers homage to the earthy existence of the place they live.

Image :
Hilltop environment of residence
Image :
South elevation
Image :
Rooftop patio garden with fire pit
Image :
View from interior of home
Image :
Rockscape with pollinator pond
Image :
 Fire pit fabricated from local stone on rooftop patio
Image :
Entrance approach to residence
Year :
2025
Size :
3,885 SF
Design :
SYMBIOS
Installation :
SYMBIOS
System :
Intensive vegetative roof systems with IRMA Geo-foam terraforming
Location :

Nicasio, CA 94946
United States

Plantings :
Native species; many native to the bioregion
Maintenance :
SYMBIOS
Project Team :
S^A - SCHWARTZ & ARCHITECTURE (architect) : FAIRWEATHER & Associates (general contractor)
Water system :

Ground water - private well

Irrigation :
Hybrid systems drip & spray
Project Scope :
Living Roof
Project Class :
Residential
Project Categories :
Meadow
Project Type :
Intensive
Semi-Intensive