somis ranch

Project Type: Custom Residential

Location: Somis, CA

Photographer: Kurt Jordan Photography

While the original 70’s-era stucco house on this working avocado ranch was in need of extensive renovation, the property’s new owner was drawn by the idyllic rural setting and sweeping views of surrounding alluvial farmland.

Given the region’s susceptibility to wildfires - the completed home survived two recent fires unscathed while adjacent dwellings were completely destroyed - the redesign relies on a material palate that prioritizes fire resistance while also aligning with the owner’s design aesthetic and functional imperatives. The metal roof, siding, windows, hog-fenced deck railings, and heavy timber decks and patio terraces are all ember-resistant and will age in a manner that deepens the home’s integration with the surrounding natural environment.

Modern house with large glass windows, surrounded by greenery, with a paved stone walkway in front.
Interior view of a modern sunroom with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, black metal framing, a brick floor, and a wooden ceiling, overlooking lush greenery outside.
Exterior view of a modern building with large glass windows, a gravel pathway, and trees visible through the windows.
A leafless tree growing against a corrugated metal wall.
A modern two-story house with metal siding, multiple large windows, and a wooden balcony, surrounded by a landscaped yard with gravel, plants, and a large tree, with open countryside in the background.
A concrete ceiling with a round, metallic light fixture emitting warm light, surrounded by black markings and small holes in the concrete.
Interior view of a room with large glass windows, brick flooring, and wooden walls and ceiling. There are plants outside visible through the windows, and a framed picture leaning against the railing.
Interior view of a room with wood-paneled walls, white painted ceiling with exposed beams, a large window with a garden view, a metal railing, a small table, a framed artwork, and various decorative items.
Spacious living room with wooden flooring, large windows with greenery outside, a cozy seating area with couches and armchairs, decorative artwork on the walls, and a staircase railing near the entrance.
A cozy corner with a framed portrait of a young girl, a vintage armchair with floral upholstery, a pair of blue shoes on the floor, and a bed with a floral duvet in a room with wooden walls.
A bedroom with a window seat bed covered in white and gold patterned bedding, pillows, and a view of trees outside. The room has wood-paneled walls and a ceiling with decorative brass fixtures.
Interior of a cozy bedroom with gray wood paneling, a large window with a view of trees, and a bed with a patterned quilt. Adjacent to the bedroom is a small rustic bathroom with white subway tiles, a round mirror, a vintage sink, and two chairs.
A small bathroom with white subway tiles, a black and white sink, a toilet, a mirror, and towels hanging on a metal rod. The lower part of the walls is made of corrugated metal.
Decorative wall with a vintage shoe on a carved wooden plaque, a brass wall lamp, and a shell collection on a dark wooden nightstand next to a gray upholstered bed.
A corner of a room with wood-paneled walls, a wooden desk, a black chair, a window showing trees outside, and a decorative jar on the desk.
View into a vintage-style shower with white subway tiles, a metal showerhead, and a striped radiator, separated by a rustic, divided glass door, surrounded by wooden paneling and a glimpse of a patterned armchair and framed painting in an adjacent ro
Exterior view of a modern house with a balcony, metal railing, large window and sliding glass door, surrounded by trees and a hillside at sunset.
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