House of Horns by WOJR
Photographer
Nick Dearden
House of Horns is a minimalist residence situated in Los Altos Hills, California, envisioned by the architecture studio WOJR. One of the project’s most decisive design moves occurs at the very beginning—by re-submerging the lower level into the hillside, the architects restore the site’s natural contours. This gesture of re-alignment with the terrain generates a dual spatial condition: a light-filled, elevated social zone above, and a series of introspective, cavernous rooms below. At the center of the upper floor, a dining table anchors the space beneath a sculptural ceiling of inverted elliptical vaults, which stretch upward toward precisely placed skylights and clerestory windows.
What sets the project apart is its nuanced balance between contrasting architectural intentions. The open-plan layout of the upper level channels a modernist sense of order, while the presence of a Danby marble fireplace introduces a textural weight and geological narrative. This Vermont-sourced stone draws a material connection from the California hills to distant quarries, building a silent dialogue between regions and traditions.
Below, the bathing space—supported by an ovoid column of stone—evokes echoes of historic architecture, reminiscent of Roman baths or Moorish hammams, yet remains firmly rooted in the present through its clean, contemporary detailing. These subterranean rooms open onto sunken courtyards, allowing for unexpected moments of light and openness, and creating a fluid interplay between the interior’s shelter and the landscape’s expanse.
