Entry number: B06019
Project Name: "An Artist Playground"
Building Type: Residential
Completion Date: December 2005
Architect: Joel Sherman JLS Design

Design team:
Landscape architect: BP Landscape
Structural engineer: Gabbantwoods
General contractor: John Hagen
Photographer: Joel Sherman

Design Approach/Narrative: “an artists playground”…… nestled into the rust colored rich soil of the Sierra Nevada foothills (in Nevada City, California), the Waxman Residence emerges from the hillside complimenting rather than dominating the surrounding manzanitas, cedars, pines, madrones, and sculptural black oats. Amidst the 21 acre parcel and poised over Mosquito Creek, the Zinc colored arched from echoes the surrounding granite outcroppings, the lateral corten steel shed is reminiscent of the vernacular-utilitarian mining sheds. The form, the layout, the materials, and the detailing all stem from the Owner’s various and sometime conflicting desires. Providing numerous wall planes for predetermined works of art while creating visual vignettes. Instituting the perception of an organic, flowing plan while still maintaining a tight budget, was achieved by structurally insolating serpentine-like sandblasted CMU site walls occasionally sliding through the structure. Also, in an effort to coexist with the property, the plan consciously meanders through the forest floor establishing a hierarchy of courts and plazas. Extensive use of clerestories mitered glass corners, glass saw-cut into CMU walls, and material extension from inside to out sustains the natural light utilization and indoor / outdoor spatial transitions. Presenting an established processional guest entry sequence from road to living room, while screening the Owner / service access was an additional request. Furthermore, in an effort to gel, these among other programmatic issues, a consistent detailing language is employed from stem to stern.

Material in ASL Library: Form Core Boards, Project Description Form, Exteriors Photos, Location Map, Site Plan, Floor Plan, and Interior Photos