Hydeaway House is a modern vineyard retreat in the Carneros region of Sonoma, California, designed by Schwartz and Architecture. The simple, one-story 2,000 square foot floor plan is not unlike any number of recent pre-fabricated prototypes for low cost, sustainable single-family homes. But then, the shape of the house begins to morph with the push and pull of the surrounding environment. The simple rectangular box folds in two to embrace the open 1-acre site. Walls skew under the rectangular roof to focus on near and distant views. This then creates the tapering roof overhangs that strategically protect the private spaces from the harshest of the summer sun. In the end, the design retains the benefits of a simple plan with streamlined construction, and the economical and sustainable use of materials. Yet with just a few subtle shifts in the plan, we create a home engaged with its surroundings and far more able to take advantage of the best its site has to offer — qualities often lacking in the simple box.

To stay at the heavenly retreat, prices range from $775 – $975 per night, from here.

Photos: Matthew Millman