Green Cottage in the Mill Valley Forest

Jonathan Feldman green roof forest cottage

Photo © Joe Fletcher

Small green cottage in a forest valley of Mill Valley, California is a real green feast for the eyes. Architect Jonathan Feldman had a challenging job because he had to build the cottage on steep terrain, but did not want to disturb the redwood trees that grow in the area.

The solution was to make two separate buildings, nestled on flat sites against the hillside. Interior of the house includes two spaces. One is dedicated to the practice of yoga and the other is an art space.

For the implementation of the project they cut down only two unhealthy trees that were ready to go anyway. Specificity of the cottage is the green roof, which is heavier than normal roofs so it is necessary to have this in mind when building a solid structure.

The aim was to make this project as ‘green’ as possible

Feldman wanted to make the cabin visually integrated into the land. Due to its place among the trees, he wanted the house to merge with the surroundings. The green roof has an attractive appearance and is also environmentally friendly – the more natural surfaces we have, the better.