Architect | Ecotech Design |
Location | Paso Robles, CA, United States |
Photographs | Paul Vu |
Ecotech Design, a Los Angeles-based design studio and longstanding pioneer of container architecture, recently completed an eco-friendly shipping container hotel in the beautiful wine country of Paso Robles, California.
The luxury bed-and-breakfast showcases 8 units and a reception area set in the middle of 145 acres of vibrant grapevines and rolling hills. Each BnB features recycled and locally-sourced sustainable materials and finishes, and is perched above covered parking and the surrounding vineyards. Ecotech Design developed the master plan and unit design primarily based on the use of recycled shipping containers set in clusters around an existing 60-foot live oak tree and in collaboration with the fabricator, Crate Modular and the winery co-owners, Steve Cass and Ted Plemons. The design integrates twenty factory-built, steel shipping containers with conventional construction and local building materials.
The Geneseo Inn consists of seven BnB units composed of two 20-foot containers and one 12-foot high clerestory element, each with raised decks at the entry and rear. In addition, a deluxe, bridal unit suite is composed of one 40-foot and one 20-foot container unit. An office cluster uses four 20-foot containers with a large, communal deck and reception areas under a live oak tree. The exterior color palettes complement the various wine labels used at Cass Winery.
The buildings are raised dramatically above the vineyard on multiple, steel piloti to create a covered parking area underneath, and enhance views over the surrounding wine country. A 12-foot high “cathedral ceiling” clerestory with multiple, operable windows enhances natural ventilation and daylighting to conserve energy and support healthier interiors. In addition, the clerestory elevates the ceiling in order to visually open up the lower, adjacent container spaces.
Exterior materials are locally sourced non-outgassing, recycled corten steel and naturally distressed structural steel, glass, cement board, recycled decking. Winery barn materials and recycled agricultural structures were repurposed to become the interior ceiling and floor finishes. Roofs were designed for future solar, green roofs and other sustainable add-ons.