A Fire-Resistant Home on Tricky Terrain Taps Into the Power of Prefab

Packed with off-grid tech, the partially prefabricated Waterfall Residence soaks up stunning views of Carmel Valley.

Jan 11, 2021 - 22:17

A Fire-Resistant Home on Tricky Terrain Taps Into the Power of Prefab

Packed with off-grid tech, the partially prefabricated Waterfall Residence soaks up stunning views of Carmel Valley.

Over 1,700 square feet of steel decking wraps around the elevated home.

As seasoned industrial designers, Rick and Linda Lewis were confident they could solve for a beautiful yet steeply sloped Carmel Valley site that many potential buyers had dismissed due to the difficulty of conventional construction. The recently retired couple, who sold their Palo Alto home to finance a new contemporary dream home, found their answer in prefab design.

Not only could a factory-fabricated structure address the tricky topography with minimal grading, but it would also help them achieve their goal of building a sustainable forever home.

Elevated on an oak-studded hillside lot, the three-bedroom, three-bath Waterfall Residence overlooks spectacular views in three directions.

David LaLush

Built with the factory-fabricated Blue Sky Building System (BSBS), the home’s steel-framed floor, roof, and structural posts were rapidly bolted together on-site in less than two weeks.

David LaLush

Inspired by Blue Sky Building Systems’ moment frames, the Lewises tapped the Southern Californian company to construct their home’s fire-resistant structure, and they collaborated with Andrew Goodwin Designs on the final structure.

"They came to us with many of their design ideas already chosen, and they had such a great design sense due to their work in the industry that they could clearly and quickly make decisions," says Goodwin. "We expanded upon their vision to help site the home, detail the interiors, and expand upon the concept to make the home much more of a designed object."