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Designed and Built by Skillful Means
Composer's Cave
Joshua Tree, California (San Bernardino County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
completed 2001
Award-winning, innovative structural design. All-straw barrel vault roof. Designed for music.
The Pie (Retreat Cabin)
Junction City, California (Trinity County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project designer: John Swearingen
completed 2004
Prototype for a round straw-bale with octagonal sod roof, with multi-directional views.
Guest Lodge
Junction City, California (Trinity County)
designed by Skillful Means
project designer: John Swearingen
completed 2003
11 unit, five bathroom, two kitchen retreat lodge constructed with semi-skilled and volunteer labor. Requires no airconditioning in very hot summer climate.
The Chapel*
Ft. Bragg, California (Mendocino County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project designers: John Swearingen, Pam Goode
completed 1999
Elegent and traditional straw-bale chapel, utilizes natural lighting in a cloudy coastal climate.
Oak House
Calistoga, California (City of Calistoga)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project architect: Chris Andrews
under construction
House and barn/studio creates public and private spaces around a centuries old oak tree.
Wine Country House
Kenwood, California (Sonoma County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project architect: Theresa Tamley
completed 2002
Comfortable single-story house with dramatic living room.
Budget Home
Napa, California (Napa County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project architect: Pam Goode
completed 1999
Simple, ranch-style house for a retired couple
Round Meditation Cottage
Marin County, California
designed and built by Skillful Means
completed in 1998
A small round meditation room, inspired by the owner's dreams. Features adobe clay floor, sod roof., curved roof beams and a carved door.
House for Entertaining in the Foothills
Nevada City, California (Nevada County)
designed and built by Skillful Means and owners
project architect: Theresa Tamley
completed 2004
Long narrow house for entertaining and relaxing.
Cotswald Cottage
Cazedero, California (Sonoma County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
completed 2002
House with turrets & loft inspired by Cotswald cottages, built in rainy costal location.
Tuscan single-story in the Napa Valley
Yountville, California (Napa County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project architect: Pam Goode
completed 2000
Simple and finely detailed two bedroom house.
Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
designed and built by Skillful Means
completed 1988
A recreation area around a hotel pool
using native and recycled materials.
Passive Solar House
Mountaindale, New York
designed and built by Skillful Means
project designer, John Swearingen
completed 1978
Our first design-build, this house used locally milled siding,
and beams salvaged from an old ice house.
Bathhouse for Campground
Junction City, California (Trinity County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project designer: John Swearingen
Comfortable and spacious outdoor bathing area
The Egg (Retreat Cabin)
Junction City, California (Trinity County)
designed and built by Skillful Means
project designer: John Swearingen
completed 2001
Prototype for a dynamic, view-oriented cabin.
Earth bermed, climate tempered.
Design by Skillful Means
(built by others)
Simple Home for Owner-builder
Pt Arena, California (Mendocino County)
designed by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
completed 1999
Simple but spacious home, built by the owners with assistance from our staff.
Design for a Couple in the Bay Area
El Sobrante, California (Contra Costa County)
designed by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
completed 2004
Dynamic house on a dramatic site.
House on a Ridge
Lakeport, California (Lake County)
designed by Skillful Means
project Architect: Chris Andrews
under construction by owner
House in three sections, living, sleeping, office separated by breezeways, and features timbered ceilings..
Home for the Outdoors
Hamilton City, California (Butte County)
designed by Skillful Means
project designer: John Swearingen
completed 2002
Small house that feels large and relates to the outdoors.
Bathhouse for Shenoa Retreat Center*
Philo, California (Mendocino County)
designed by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
completed 1996
Elegent bathhouse in a redwood grove.
Habitat for Humanity Home
Yuba City, California (Yuba County)
designed by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
completed 2001
Two story layout takes advantage of site--common rooms flow equally to the front and rear yards.
Spiral House in the Sun
Ukiah, California
designed by Skillful Means
unbuilt
Dynamic solution for a difficult site.
Rammed Earth
Oakville, California (Napa Valley)
completed 1990
One of two rammed-earth houses built by Skillful Means
Pre-designed House Plans
available as plan set
designed by Skillful Means
project Architect: Chris Andrews
Small and comfortable houses.
Rastra-block
Skillful Means has experience with Rastra type blocks, and has used them for foundation walls.
Proposal for Boat House for Rowing Club
Oakland, California
designed by Skillful Means
project architect: Chris Andrews
Guest Cabin in Napa County
Napa/Sonoma, California
(Napa County)
project architect: Pam Goode
completed 1999
Guest cabin/pool house built by owners.
Energy Efficient Ranch Style
Loma Rica, California
designed by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
under construction
Simple, energy-efficient house for owner-builders
Earth Bermed Solar House
Soledad, California (Monterey County)
designed by Skillful Means
project Architect: Janet Johnston
under construction
Sunny house protected from wind in the Salinas Valley
Santa Fe Style house for Dry Climate
Sheridan, California
designed by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
unbuilt
Santa Fe style house for a couple.
Owner-builder in North Carolina
North Carolina
designed by Skillful Means
project architect: Janet Johnston
under construction
Two-story house designed for the owners to build.
Built by Skillful Means
(design by others)
Silicon Valley Solar
Los Altos Hills, California (Town of LAH)
built by Skillful Means
designed by Van der Ryn Architects
completed 2002
Passive solar home with large living/dining area, sheet metal ceiling, SIP panel roof, lime wash interior.
Cottage in Farm Country
Chico, California (Butte County)
designed by Babette Jee
completed 2004
Finely finished house amidst orchards.
Frog Hollow Farm Cottage
Brentwood, CA (Contra Costa County)
built by Skillful Menas
designed by DS&A
completed 1999
Small house for farm worker's family, built with the help of the workers.
Great photos of construction and workshops by Miguel Fairbanks.
Hidden Villa Environmental Education Center
Los Altos Hills, California (Santa Clara County)
designed by SLOSG
completed in 2001
Offices and Conference space for Envorinmental Center. Energy independent: solar heating , hot water and electricity.
Hermitage at Santa Sabina
San Rafael, California (City of San Rafael)
built by Skillful Means
designed by DS&A
completed 1996
A small hermitage constructed with volunteers.
House at Shenoa*
Philo, California (Mendocino County)
built by Skillful Means
designed by DS&A
completed 1995
Two-family cottage. First permitted load-bearing straw-bale in California.
Subject of Fine Homebuilding article. Featured in Sunset Magazine.
An Elegant Barn
Northern California
built by Skillful Means
designed by Manolo Maestre
completed 1998
Octagonal barn/studio with loft; uses recycled timbers, Cor-Ten roof.
Straw Bench at Amtrack Station
Davis, California (Colusa County)
designed by Indigo Architects
completed in 2001
200 foot long bale bench inlaid with tile.
Large House in Rice Country
Oakville, California (San Joaquin County)
built by Skillful Means
designed by DS&A
completed 2001
Large house with integrated photovoltaic system, stained concrete floors.
Stupas
Junction City, California
traditional design
completed in 2000
Our staff assisted with casting several 22' tall Buddhist monuments.
Radial House on a Hillside
Berkeley, California (City of Berkeley)
built by Skillful Means
designed by Dan Lieberman
completed 1989
Complex radial house required craftsmanship and the ability to innovate in construction methods.
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Tuscan Style
San Rafael, California (Marin County)
built by Skillful Means
designed by Jim Gillam
completed 1993
Tuscan-style house with fine detailing.
Brownshingle in the Foothills (Nevada County)
Grass Valley, California
built by Skillful Means
designed by DS&A
completed 2000
Two-story, large volume house with porches, decks and solarium
Lake View
Georgetown, California (Placer County)
built by Skillful Means
designed by DS&A
project architect: Ditmar Lorenz
completed 2001
Nicely finished house with views.
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