O’Donnell Lane

The Concept

Of our many projects completed in Sonoma County, only one was destroyed by the recent spate of wildfires: a recently completed two-story remodel/addition, on O’Donnell Lane in Glen Ellen. We were asked to complete drawings for what became a successful rebuild, and were also approached by two neighbors who lost their home in the same 2017 fires. Almost the whole street of wooden, cottage-style homes burned, and we were honored and excited to be part of the neighborhood rebuild.

In our experience working with fire rebuild projects, our clients typically want the house they had before, exactly as it was. We worked carefully with this feeling, being sensitive to their trauma, while offering opportunities for improvement, creating subtle changes that still made a significant difference in their new home. These included a covered walkway between carport and entry; a small reading nook off the living room that also defined the entry area; further connections between kitchen, living area, and backyard space; and upgraded front porches to create a more dramatic expression and presence on the street.

We brought the homes up to the new fire code and energy standards, using materials like a thicker fiber-cement siding and heavy timber structural elements that still evoked the craftsman, bungalow sensibility. All three recreated a comforting familiarity, with upgrades designed to make them long-lasting…as much as possible that is.