Jess Field - Field Architecture
The Madrone Ridge House
Sponsored by Architectural Record | Presented by Jess Field
Jess Field, half of the father-and-son team that lead FIELD Architecture joins the podcast to talk about their unique approach to design. Along with their father Stan Field, the firm has a strong passion for designing in natural terrain and letting the topography of the site generate the flow of the house. Field discusses their approach to some of their more unique projects like the madrone Ridge house and The Big Sur House that incorporates a bridge over a ravine to connect two buildings. The Field family brings a very specific, nature-based perspective to architecture, born out of multi-generations of designers and a love of surfing.
Photo courtesy of Field Architecture
Madrone Ridge house, Big Sur, CA
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Aaron Prinz is the host of the Design:ED Podcast and holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He was born and raised in the rural Northern California town of Red Bluff, just two hours south of the Oregon border. After one year of college, Prinz relocated to San Francisco to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. At age 26, he began studying architecture at Portland State University while interning at Studio Petretti Architecture led by Amanda Petretti. His professional contributions while at Studio Petretti were focused on a portion of the new Multnomah County Courthouse which is a prominent addition to the Portland skyline. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Roxanne where he continues to work as a designer. |
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Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in September 2024
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Describe the relationship Field searches for between landscape and residential architecture by identifying key site-specific factors that influence design choices, such as topography and climate.
- Discuss the pavilion-style residential layout Field employs and explain how breaking up spaces into smaller, functional units impacts both aesthetics and user experience compared to open floor plans.
- Evaluate the impact of natural elements, such as sunlight, wind, and water, on architectural design by assessing how these factors inform building placement and material choices in the Madrone Ridge and Big Sur projects.
- List the principles of environmentally responsive design supported by Field and how these impact the occupants and surrounding community.
