H O U S EB U T T E R F LY

b y S a r a C a n t u

A R C H I T E C T U R E

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s e t a m o n g the rolling hills of Carmel, California, Feldman Architecture’s Butterfly House is a testament to what can be achieved with just a smidgen of

inspiration. The residential property got its name from the prospective owner noting he’d seen butterflies in the meadow upon entering the property. Not only

did this influence its moniker, but its design aesthetic as well, with nods to the butterfly seen throughout.

d e s i g n t e a m :a r c h i t e c t : Fe l d m a n A r c h i t e c t u r e

g e n e r a l c o n t r a c t o r : G r o z a C o n s t r u c t i o nl a n d s c a p e a r c h i t e c t : B e r n a r d Tr a i n o r + A s s o c i a t e s

s t r u c t u r a l e n g i n e e r : S h e e r l i n e S t r u c t u r a l E n g i n e e r i n gl i g h t i n g c o n s u lt a n t : K i m C l a d a s L i g h t i n g D e s i g n

p h o t o g r a p h y : Jo e F l e t c h e r P h o t o g r a p h y

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than 50 different species spotted within the Santa Lucia Preserve, the butterfly’s influence is unmistakable. The process of determining the ideal location for such a project was an arduous one. The home’s owners spent two years searching for a spot of land flat enough to accommodate a one-level home. The search ended with the Santa Lucia preserve, a 20,000 acre private development. And so began the construction of the 2,900 square foot home.

Aside from the beauty of its lush surroundings, a complex design is a large part of the Butterfly House’s outstanding appeal. The striking property is divided by three butterfly roof-topped pavilions, with the central pavilion containing living, dining and cooking spaces, and an office just outside the kitchen. The two other pavilions are reserved for the bedrooms, bathrooms and lounge areas, while the master bedroom is built from an eclectic combination of concrete, glass and plywood. This creates a contemporary space that pairs flawlessly with its picturesque surroundings.

W I T H M O R E

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W I T H M O R E T H A N 5 0 D I F F E R E N T S P E C I E S S P O T T E D W I T H I N T H E S A N TA L U C I A P R E S E RV E , T H E B U T T E R F LY ’ S I N F L U E N C E I S U N M I S TA K A B L E .

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indoor and outdoor spaces are joined by an innovative, accordion-like NanaWall, an award-winning edge-to-edge glass folding system. An outdoor fire pit, providing stunning views of the Santa Lucia Preserve, is primed for entertaining.

Among the home’s many good qualities is its energy-efficiency. Feldman Architecture paid special attention to water conservation during the home’s design process, calling for roof funnels to work in tandem with landscape collection pools to irrigate the surrounding land, which is filled with native grasses and wildflowers.

T H E H O M E ’ S

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A S I D E F R O M T H E B E A U T Y O F I T S L U S H S U R R O U N D I N G S , A C O M P L E X D E S I G N I S A L A R G E PA R T O F T H E B U T T E R F LY H O U S E ’ S O U T S TA N D I N G A P P E A L .

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butterfly motif manifests in several ways throughout the home, none are as impactful as the roof, which allows for extra ventilation via operable high windows. To offer the illusion of the roof floating delicately above the concrete walls, slender, stiff posts were embedded in the concrete and disguised as window mulling pieces.

Inspiration abounds at the Butterfly House, which combines a cool, contemporary aesthetic with eco-friendly features to form a California abode that is as hip as it is sophisticated. Eco-friendly and elegant, a home this stunning was destined for the scenic valley in which it quietly sits.

W H I L E T H E

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T H E H O M E ’ S I N D O O R A N D O U T D O O R S PAC E S A R E J O I N E D BY A N I N N OVAT I V E , AC C O R D I O N -L I K E N A N AWA L L , A N AWA R D -W I N N I N G E D G E -T O - E D G E G L A S S F O L D I N G S YS T E M .

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W H I L E T H E B U T T E R F LY M O T I F M A N I F E S T S I N S E V E R A L WAYS T H R O U G H O U T T H E H O M E , N O N E A R E A S I M PAC T F U L A S T H E R O O F, W H I C H A L L OW S F O R E X T R A V E N T I L AT I O N V I A O P E R A B L E H I G H W I N D OW S .

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