Bird House

Overlooking the northwestern edge of Napa Valley, this pavilion-style weekend house by Hugh Newell Jacobsen and Simon Jacobsen sits at the edge of the contour overlooking the vineyard, drawing on the region's agricultural vernacular to shape its gable-roofed assemblage of volumes. Full-height glass walls open from each space onto a common travertine terrace that overlooks the changing seasons and the peacefully rolling fog of the valley. An infinity-edge swimming pool extends the terrace, creating a seamless connection to the view of Napa Valley wine country. Ornamental grasses and plantings soften the terrace edges, binding the house to the vineyard landscape. At the edge of the pool, a small shed for pool equipment—fitted with a circular louvered vent and an oversize perch—became the property's defining marker and gave the entire estate its name: Birdhouse.