Design and architecture firm: Ecotech Design, Los Angeles

The details: The Cass Winery in Paso Robles, California occupies a serene 145-acre stretch of wine country that’s earned a reputation as a coveted wedding venue. New to the sprawling property is the Geneseo Inn, a luxury B&B elevated—literally—by eight upcycled shipping containers overlooking the vineyards, set upon steel pilotis that also shelter parking. “The architecture and the vineyard are connected both physically and visually, as well as in terms of material use,” says Walter Scott Perry, principal with Ecotech Design. Grapevines are placed intentionally to create linear land art, while the containers follow a similar layout to seamlessly merge the landscape with the architecture. With sustainability top of mind, each unit is made from locally sourced recycled corten steel, naturally distressed structural steel, glass, cement board, and recycled ceramic set beneath ceilings clad with wood siding sourced from a razed barn on the property. Further, roofs will eventually host sustainable add-ons, like solar panels or greenery. “The cluster of containers on the landscape creates a better sense of place,” Perry says. “We wanted to exploit the views and the openness of the central California wine country by opening the containers up to the surroundings as much as possible.”

This article originally appeared in HD’s September 2020 issue.