This mountain lodge home located on a 500-acre cattle ranch is built around an engineered wetland system atop a ridge in the Cazadero hills. This landscape captures over 300,000 gallons of rainwater from the roof annually and filters it through an integrated system of swales, wetlands, and ultimately a pond with a recirculating waterfall.

 

Not only does this capture and clean rainwater prior to discharging into our local watershed, it provides immense wildlife habitat and natural beauty. Large boulders, quarried from the site, anchor the house into the natural landscape with integrated fruit trees, California natives and grey-water systems all further enhance the project's beauty, ecological literacy, and functionality. 

​

Designer: Elder Creek Design Studios

Architect: 

Photography: Rick Taylor