Weathering steel, concrete and glass were used to form this asymmetrical dwelling by Mork-Ulnes Architects that is nudged into a hillside overlooking a verdant, rolling valley in northern California's Sonoma County

Mork-Ulnes Architects ? which has offices in San Francisco and Oslo ? was charged with creating a home that not only met the clients' needs, but also responded to the threat of wildfire.
"The initial challenge of the project, which really shaped the form of the building, was how to embrace the very steep slope and views of the site while creating access for fire trucks in this wildfire-prone area," said architect Casper Mork-Ulnes in a project description.

The team designed the two-storey Triple Barn house to slot into the sloped site, which offers sweeping views of an undulating valley blanketed with trees and vineyards. The upper level, which houses the main living functions, is roughly rectangular in plan with a slight curve. It sits atop a smaller lower level, which encompasses an office, storage and a laundry room, along with a carport that occupies a sheltered void. Adjacent to the home is a wide driveway that can accommodate fire trucks.

The house is topped with three gabled roofs that delineate distinct zones within the dwelling. Concrete was used for the lower portion of the building, while weathering steel wraps the upper level.

"We chose Corten steel as the cladding material for its natural resistance to fire, as well as its resonanc...