American studio Walker Warner Architects has created an auxiliary dwelling for a northern California residence that consists of gabled volumes wrapped in reclaimed wood.

The project, Portola Valley Barn, is located in the exclusive town of Portola Valley, which lies just south of San Francisco. Built on a four-acre (1.6-hectare) property with a main residence, the new building houses guest quarters, an office, and spaces for entertaining and relaxing.

Encompassing 5,200 square feet (483 square metres), the dwelling consists of gabled forms that stretch across a clearing in a grove of trees. The volumes are loosely arranged around a terrace and verdant lawn.
"The compound comprises three primary structures ? a spacious home office, a home theatre and a luxurious guest suite ? connected by interstitial entryways containing a kitchen and powder room," described Walker Warner Architects, a San Francisco-based studio.
While conceiving the dwelling, the architects took cues from the area's vernacular architecture, specifically its weathered, tin-roofed buildings. For exterior walls, the team used reclaimed oak from Kentucky barns, along with ebonised mahogany. Standing-seam metal ? painted to resemble zinc ? was used for the roof.

In contrast to the rustic exterior, the building's interior design, by California-based Selby House, is meant to feel crisp and contemporary. Rooms feature white walls and polished surfaces. Large expanses of glass provide a strong con...