Robin House by Sami Mink in Cove City, California

Project: Robin House
Architects: Sami Mink
Location: Cove City, California, USA
Area: 9149 sq ft
Photos: Chad Slater

Robin House by Sami Mink

The Robin House is a modern home designed by Sami Mink in Cove City, California. It is located on a unique street, but this is not the only thing that makes this house special. The cuboid appearance will definitely attract passersby's attention. With more than 9000 square feet of interior space, it is a quite comfortable home for living.

Due to the small lot size and unusual configuration, as well as financial constraints, these factors defined the project's boundaries. Located on a unique street, the house had all the potential of a 'box' — boring and ready to be transformed into a home for me and my dog Winston.

Although the foundation and area must remain unchanged due to planning restrictions, all doors were reconfigured, including moving the main entrance from the street and introducing a more indirect approach through a new garden. Windows were reviewed to control and focus light inflow, standardizing and reducing all openings while also revealing the roof for new skylights. These simple changes create a clear contrast between more expressive moments of light and the broad, smooth flow of light coming from above.

All interior walls were removed to open up the space, allowing new exposed wooden beams and columns, as well as 'reinforced partitions' of functional wooden furniture. The furniture was designed to be assembled on-site with common timber and a miter saw.

The exterior cladding was made from dark wooden planks, whose black and brown textures change throughout the day under different lighting conditions. The external lattice, recently planted with bougainvillea, restores part of the original spirit of the house, which was fully covered by a vineyard upon purchase. The result is sometimes harsh but tonal exterior with an unexpectedly warm, bright and cozy interior space. The house is small and simple, without room for stylistic or pretentious gestures, but with enough space to live.

– Sami Mink