Hygge House

A modern, multi-tiered hilltop estate is set in the rolling grasslands of the Santa Ynez Valley, in Solvang, California. The owner’s sought a design that blends their Danish-American heritage with sleek California modernism to promote the philosophy of Hygge. 

Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a Danish cultural concept focusing on comfort, coziness, and, togetherness to promote well-being and contentment. Key principles include creating a warm, intimate atmosphere, enjoying simple pleasures, and fostering close social connections. 

Perched atop a ridge to capture sweeping 270-degree views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, the main single-family home features an elevated butterfly roof over the central living spaces, bridging the kitchen and bedroom wings of its double courtyard plan. Sinuous land-forming shelters the estate from prevailing winds while orienting the primary spaces toward inspiring pastoral landscape. Stepped down the grassy slope, the partially bermed guesthouse is topped with a landscaped roof deck that acts as an extension of the main lawn, cleverly concealing auxiliary functions like a home theater and health center while offering ultimate privacy and a direct connection to the central swimming pool.