Eric Rogers of Wagstaff + Rogers Architects, at middle right, and scenes from the Treehaven home he designed. Courtesy images.
But unlike most of us, Rogers, who officially took over the reins at Wagstaff + Rogers Architects on Miller Avenue in 2018, has focused specifically on what the home of the moment, and beyond, looks like in a climate change-driven world of wildfires of ever-increasing magnitude.
Rogers co-authored “Home Reimagined: Rebuilding After the Northern California Wildfires,” which walks homeowners displaced by the fires through the process of settling with the insurance company, getting approval for subsequent permits and thinking creatively about the outcome homeowners seek in the aftermath of a disaster.
Rogers designed one such post-recovery replacement home for one lost in the Nuns Fire in October 2017. His longtime motorcycling buddy Anthony Ross, who runs the commercial division of Johnson Pool & Spa, reached out when his father-in-law Eric Norrbom’s home in Kenwood was destroyed. “We were looking for a home that did the site justice,” Ross says. “We wanted to build something that would be there for many years to come and respect the surroundings.”
Located on a site that has a spectacular view of the Sugarloaf Ridge and in particular a small 1,680-foot peak directly across the valley that is the landscape focal point of the design, the home’s major design strategy is using heavy composite lumber, steel rafter tie rods, stone and/ or concrete to create a relationship to vernacular architecture of the valley with a modern influence.”
Dubbed, “Treehaven,” the house is green building designed to GreenPoint Rated standards, but did not pursue an official rating. It was also built to CALGreen standards and conforms to the 2016 California Building Codes as allowed by Sonoma County after the ruination of so many neighborhoods throughout the community.
Norrbom lived with Ross’ family in the aftermath, and they all moved into Treehaven when that project was completed earlier this year.
“The look and livability of it was beyond what we were hoping for,” Ross says. “And Eric did an amazing job of balancing our concerns about fire safety, like the underlayments of the metal roof, a big sprinkler system with a water tank and a booster pump and elements that retard fire ignition.”
“We were intensely pleased with everything Eric did,” Ross says. “It seems like everybody has a horror story with these sorts of situations – we certainly don’t.”
The 411: Wagstaff + Rogers Architects is at 275 Miller Ave, #202. MORE INFO.
A short video tour of Treehaven: