Van der Ryn Eco-Refuge: Architecture in Nature
Entire home in Inverness, California
- 11 guests
- 4 bedrooms
- 5 beds
- 4.5 baths
Hosted by Micah
- Superhost
- 7 years hosting
Listing highlights
Top 10% of homes
This home is highly ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.
Steps from Tomales Bay State Park
Adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore with Tomales Bay State Park steps away
Hot tub, bocce court, and yurt gym
A hot tub tucked among the gardens, a bocce court, and a yurt gym on the grounds
Architecture guests call one of a kind
Guests describe the hand-built architecture as unlike anything they've stayed in before
Adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore, this stunning three-story hand-built home by renowned ecological architect Sim Van der Ryn offers a rare blend of nature, architecture, and creativity. With four ensuite bedrooms, two living rooms, a spacious open kitchen, and additional sleeping areas, the property welcomes up to eleven guests. Surrounded by gorgeous gardens, it's the perfect sanctuary for your next retreat.
The space
Crafted with nature-inspired vision over decades by renowned ecological architect Sim Van der Ryn, this three-story hand-built cedar home is a sanctuary for relaxation, rejuvenation, and connection. Sleeping up to eleven guests across four unique ensuite bedrooms plus additional sleeping areas, the artfully furnished residence invites you into a world where architecture and nature intertwine.
Your journey begins along a garden path, past water features and a pond, through a carved redwood door by celebrated sculptor J.B. Blunk. Inside, a soaring foyer ceiling painted with traditional Tibetan sky and cloud motifs by Tibetan monks connects the home's two main sections. Japanese shoji doors slide open to reveal a fully equipped gourmet kitchen and dining/living area with a queen-size bed alcove, half-bathroom, wood-burning stove, gas heater, sound system, and board games.
The three-story pole construction wing features double-groove cedar siding and flows beautifully across levels. The ground floor's octagonal "womb room" includes an ensuite bathroom and private library. The second level offers a light-drenched gathering space with vaulted ceilings, cozy couches, wood-burning stove, and office nook. The second-floor bedroom boasts an ensuite bathroom with soaking tub and hand-carved J.B. Blunk sink shelf. A wooden spiral staircase ascends to the master suite, where windows frame stunning views on both sides. The ground floor also features the two-room Roost apartment with its own private patio and entrance.
Grounds & Amenities (Paragraph 2):
The expansive grounds offer an abundance of beauty and recreation. Wander through sunny vegetable, herb, and ornamental gardens, relax by the pond and water features, or pick fruit from the orchard beneath majestic towering oaks, Laurel Bay, and Point Reyes' unique Bishop Pines. Unwind in the hot tub jacuzzi spa, work out in the yurt gym, challenge friends to bocce ball, bounce on the trampoline, or sway in the hammock.
Beyond the main estate grounds, shared spaces include the yurt/gym and memorial healing garden. For larger groups, additional units—the Ridge House and Lovely guest cottage—are available as add-ons to the main house. For more information, please contact your host, Micah Van der Ryn.
Guest access
All parts of the home and its extensive grounds are accessible to guests, including the large grassy lawn with pond, a majestic tan oak tree with hammock, a magical redwood root archway, and bocce ball court in front, plus vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and a private hot tub jacuzzi in back. Beyond the Eco Refuge Main House, guests may also access shared areas including the yurt/workout gym with stunning front and back decks overlooking Inverness Ridge, the memorial healing garden, and other intentional landscapes being developed by your host and property steward, Micah Van der Ryn (Sim's son), who lives on-site in the Ark.
Other things to note
The Eco Refuge property includes additional houses available for rent when your group needs extra sleeping or meeting space.
Van der Ryn Ridge House (sleeps up to 5 guests)
View at: airbnb.com/h/ridgehousevanderryn
Lovely Guest House (sleeps 1-2 guests)
View at: airbnb.com/h/lovelyguesthouseunitb
The space
Crafted with nature-inspired vision over decades by renowned ecological architect Sim Van der Ryn, this three-story hand-built cedar home is a sanctuary for relaxation, rejuvenation, and connection. Sleeping up to eleven guests across four unique ensuite bedrooms plus additional sleeping areas, the artfully furnished residence invites you into a world where architecture and nature intertwine.
Your journey begins along a garden path, past water features and a pond, through a carved redwood door by celebrated sculptor J.B. Blunk. Inside, a soaring foyer ceiling painted with traditional Tibetan sky and cloud motifs by Tibetan monks connects the home's two main sections. Japanese shoji doors slide open to reveal a fully equipped gourmet kitchen and dining/living area with a queen-size bed alcove, half-bathroom, wood-burning stove, gas heater, sound system, and board games.
The three-story pole construction wing features double-groove cedar siding and flows beautifully across levels. The ground floor's octagonal "womb room" includes an ensuite bathroom and private library. The second level offers a light-drenched gathering space with vaulted ceilings, cozy couches, wood-burning stove, and office nook. The second-floor bedroom boasts an ensuite bathroom with soaking tub and hand-carved J.B. Blunk sink shelf. A wooden spiral staircase ascends to the master suite, where windows frame stunning views on both sides. The ground floor also features the two-room Roost apartment with its own private patio and entrance.
Grounds & Amenities (Paragraph 2):
The expansive grounds offer an abundance of beauty and recreation. Wander through sunny vegetable, herb, and ornamental gardens, relax by the pond and water features, or pick fruit from the orchard beneath majestic towering oaks, Laurel Bay, and Point Reyes' unique Bishop Pines. Unwind in the hot tub jacuzzi spa, work out in the yurt gym, challenge friends to bocce ball, bounce on the trampoline, or sway in the hammock.
Beyond the main estate grounds, shared spaces include the yurt/gym and memorial healing garden. For larger groups, additional units—the Ridge House and Lovely guest cottage—are available as add-ons to the main house. For more information, please contact your host, Micah Van der Ryn.
Guest access
All parts of the home and its extensive grounds are accessible to guests, including the large grassy lawn with pond, a majestic tan oak tree with hammock, a magical redwood root archway, and bocce ball court in front, plus vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and a private hot tub jacuzzi in back. Beyond the Eco Refuge Main House, guests may also access shared areas including the yurt/workout gym with stunning front and back decks overlooking Inverness Ridge, the memorial healing garden, and other intentional landscapes being developed by your host and property steward, Micah Van der Ryn (Sim's son), who lives on-site in the Ark.
Other things to note
The Eco Refuge property includes additional houses available for rent when your group needs extra sleeping or meeting space.
Van der Ryn Ridge House (sleeps up to 5 guests)
View at: airbnb.com/h/ridgehousevanderryn
Lovely Guest House (sleeps 1-2 guests)
View at: airbnb.com/h/lovelyguesthouseunitb
Where you’ll sleep
1 of 3 pages
What this place offers
Garden view
Shared beach access
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
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Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 103 reviews.
Guest favorite
This home is in the top 10% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability
Overall rating
- 5 stars, 100% of reviews
- 4 stars, 0% of reviews
- 3 stars, 0% of reviews
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- 1 stars, 0% of reviews
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for cleanliness
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for location
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value
Guest reviews mention
Where you’ll be
Inverness, California, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.
Neighborhood highlights
The Van der Ryn Eco-Refuge sits on 5 acres situated one mile up a hill on knoll above the small town of Inverness on Tomales Bay. The relatively flat land has sunny open areas, edible, ornamental and healing gardens, a small pond and other water features, a huge redwood root arch, forests of oak, bishop pine, and laurel Bay trees. Your hosts (Sim Van der Ryn and Micah, his son, and Micah's family) live in other houses outside of the Eco-Refuge grounds and are available to help with any needs, while respecting guests' desire for privacy. The land borders the Nature Conservancy's Bishop Pine Reserve and the National Point Reyes Seashore beyond. We are happy to give recommendations for places to visit, hike and explore.
Meet your host
Born in the 60s
Where I went to school: Auckland Uni. PhD, USC, MA, UCSC, BA
Nature loving, positive, open, warm-hearted, responsible, and caring. Enjoy cooking, hiking, sailing, learning about and experiencing different cultures, traveling, designing and creating, and making new friends.
Micah is a Superhost
Host details
Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
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