
The Lapp RiverHouse: Arthur Dyson’s Natural Masterwork Carved by River and Ridge
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Deborah and Greg Lapp have been floating down the Kings River after they noticed it: a For Sale signal half-hidden behind the comb, perched proper on the water. Nonetheless soaked from kayaking, they pulled ashore and made a suggestion that afternoon. The location—tucked into almost 9 acres of foothill terrain—spoke louder than any brochure. They already knew who to name: architect Arthur Dyson.
Some houses are constructed. This one was uncovered. Now listed at $2,300,000, the Lapp RiverHouse at 26210 Elwood Street is available on the market—architect-designed, site-shaped, and obtainable now. It gained’t final.
Designer: Arthur Dyson
This was a return engagement. Dyson had designed Deborah’s first residence a long time earlier, a residence referred to as the Hobbit Home. That challenge earned worldwide recognition for its curving kinds and rooted presence. With this new property, the Lapps introduced contemporary intentions to acquainted palms. The result’s the Lapp RiverHouse—a residence formed by slope, gentle, and lengthy reminiscence.
Exterior Structure: The place Mass Meets Motion
From the primary glimpse, the home seems to emerge from the positioning somewhat than sit on it. The curved roofline rises from the bottom, clad in standing-seam steel that catches shifts in daylight. Outsized metal beams lengthen past the envelope, forming horizontal components that present shading and structural assist. These darkish fins modulate daylight and punctuate the visible rhythm of the roof.
Main supplies embrace stucco, cedar, and metal. Their mixed tonality matches the positioning’s muted palette. The outside reads with quiet weight. Curved kinds soften transitions between vertical and horizontal surfaces. There’s no abrupt shift between construction and land.
A rounded pool traces the house’s outer arc. Water displays the sky and kinds in tandem with it. Concrete slabs type the patio and seating areas, extensive sufficient for perform, spare sufficient to let the panorama stay the point of interest. There are not any fences or arduous enclosures alongside the sting—solely topography and pure grade.
The landscaping options drought-tolerant California natives, together with grasses, succulents, and strategically positioned boulders that complement the terrain. These decisions reinforce the house’s responsiveness to its environmental setting.
Inside Volumes: Excessive Glass, Low Ego
The entry opens into an extended, lifting quantity. Mild strikes with out obstruction. The roof continues its arc indoors, uninterrupted by dropped soffits or extreme framing.
Glass partitions dominate the southern face. Ground-to-ceiling panels run the size of the frequent areas. Corners meet cleanly, supported by slender frames. Pure views anchor the area. Mullions are minimized to create a floating impact. Above, clerestory home windows distribute ambient gentle all through the day.
Constructed-in benches stretch alongside the bottom of the home windows. These aren’t afterthoughts; they function transitions between the inside flooring and the outside view. In the lounge, neutral-toned furnishings retains visible emphasis on the skin. Upholstery and finishes stay inside a constant palette: rust, clay, pale ash, and pure oak.
The ceiling geometry slopes asymmetrically, making a directional pull that balances acoustic efficiency and spatial drama. Wooden soffits seem to soak up sound and soften visible echo.
Kitchen and Eating: Perform Drawn in Curve
The kitchen is designed to comply with the home’s geometry. Cabinetry curves alongside the outer wall. There are not any breaks within the circulation path. The island holds heart with a spherical footprint. Supplies embrace matte-finish stone and built-in fixtures. There are not any high-gloss finishes or heavy ornamentation.
Overhead, clerestory home windows and mirrored backsplash mirror ambient gentle throughout the preparation space. Storage stays hid behind flat-panel fronts. The adjoining eating nook features a built-in banquette. This continuity reinforces the spatial intent—rooms are drawn, not inserted.
Fixtures and home equipment are embedded into the cabinetry, preserving uninterrupted surfaces. No seen handles or exterior panels distract from the shape.
Non-public Quarters and the Quiet Particulars
Bedrooms comply with the slope of the roof, persevering with the house’s rhythm. Ceiling followers hint a low arc above. One wall options full-height shelving. Lighting is oblique, with accent fixtures positioned for perform.
Bogs use large-format slate tile. A full-height window within the main bathtub appears to be like out at filtered timber. Clerestories permit further gentle with out compromising enclosure. Fixtures are matte and useful. The room opens extensive with out theatrical gestures.
The laundry room consists of full-height glazing and beneficiant counter area. Each useful zone gives entry to sunlight and views. Utility isn’t confined; it’s built-in.
Flooring throughout non-public and shared areas seems to be polished concrete or limestone, chosen for thermal mass and minimal reflectivity. Thresholds are flush, and transitions are seamless.
Wine Room: Sculpture in a Delivery Container
A separate construction behind the house incorporates a wine cellar, constructed right into a transformed delivery container. One wall is surfaced in cork, organized right into a sweeping reduction sample. The visible texture mimics the looks of abrasion or windblown sediment.
Shelving is made from uncooked wooden and metal brackets. A slim bar anchors the area, with two chairs set for quiet tasting. No synthetic lighting schemes or ostentatious shows. The materiality carries the temper.
The area is thermally contained with minimal glazing, counting on insulation and passive airflow to control temperature.
Website, Efficiency, and Objective
Cross air flow is achieved by putting operable home windows alongside prevailing wind paths. Roof overhangs block excessive summer season solar whereas admitting low winter gentle. These methods are a part of the construction itself. There are not any overlays or aftermarket additions.
The roof system displays photo voltaic load whereas sustaining a low visible profile. No dormers interrupt the massing. Drive entry follows the positioning’s pure contours, main by means of oaks and native vegetation.
The lighting technique avoids using spotlights or pendants. Most fixtures are recessed or built-in into reveals. LED strips present ambient glow somewhat than directional glare.
This home invitations a pause with out efficiency. Every room opens towards calm. Each floor respects its place. There are not any declarations. Simply presence, and the sort of design that reveals itself slowly, over seasons, by means of shadows, and in silence.
Inquire now to expertise the Lapp RiverHouse at 26210 Elwood Street, listed at $2,300,000—earlier than it’s gone.