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Design Awards
Volume 76, Issue 4 - Awards
Fall 2026

Cayucos Ridge Barn

Clayton Korte

Set on the eastern edge of a 150-acre property in California’s Santa Lucia Range, this agricultural barn supports vineyard operations while honoring its coastal setting. Positioned between forest and vineyard, its vehicle bays open directly to the working landscape. A generous roof overhang shades a work porch and protects overhead doors from afternoon sun. The wood-framed structure is clad in corrugated weathering steel, chosen for its longevity, maintenance-free nature, and natural patina, while sliding barn doors are clad in repurposed material salvaged from Saxum Winery. The barn is off-grid, using roof-mounted photovoltaic panels to charge an on-site battery bank and polycarbonate-glazed overhead doors to admit daylight. Exposed framing and raw plywood walls create a rugged, thoughtful aesthetic. The project’s material honesty and resilient functionality embody a deep connection to land, craft, and purpose.

“The project is incredibly well-sited, and the building, with its very quiet register, is done with great economy. Nothing is wasted. Wherever you are, there are incredible views. The overhangs of the barn create outdoor spaces—there’s a speaking to indoor-outdoor here. The interior spaces are equally as direct. Everything is being told very clearly in the storytelling of this project.” —Chris Baribeau, FAIA

View full Design Awards submission

Location
Cayucos, California
Client
Saxum Vineyards
Design Team 
Brian Korte, FAIA, Josh Nieves, AIA
Contractor
Woulbroun Construction
Structural Engineer
Buehler
Civil Engineer
Walsh Engineering
Planning
Kirk Consulting
Photographer 
Casey Dunn

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