Studio Schicketanz - Modular timber compound in carmel valley to be featured on America ByDESIGN™

2026-05-27

Studio Schicketanz’s innovative, multi-family wooden residence takes center stage in Season 6, Episode 3 airing this Saturday on CBS News.

On Saturday, May 30, 2026, the critically acclaimed series America ByDESIGN™—presented in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and hosted by Kevin Bethune—will take viewers inside a deeply personal, rule-breaking residential project in Carmel Valley by award-winning architecture and interior design firm Studio Schicketanz.

The episode spotlights the unique, multi-family timber compound, designed by Studio Schicketanz Founding Principal, architect Gabriele Mary Ann Schicketanz, AIA MB, as a haven for herself, her son, and his young family. Featured internationally in Dwell and AD Magazin, the project offers a brilliant new blueprint for the classic California estate. Instead of a singular, imposing mansion, Schicketanz designed a seamlessly integrated dual-home concept utilizing advanced modular timber units from Method Homes to achieve flawless factory precision on a compressed timeline.

Nestled on a five-acre parcel within The Santa Lucia Conservancy, adjacent to the Los Padres National Forest, the warm wooden residence was engineered to sit lightly on the land. Governed by strict conservancy regulations to protect native landscapes and wildlife corridors, the all-electric compound features a primary home and an independent ADU that optimizes family privacy while operating on advanced solar and battery systems that generate 179% of the residents' power needs. The segment explores how high design, premium modular fabrication, and rigorous ecological stewardship can come together to create a sophisticated, next-generation family retreat.

Schicketanz notes, “Architecturally, this project stands for a singular principle: to be completely subordinate to nature. Siting the compound was like placing minimal sculptures in a landscape, grouped entirely around a single, magnificent deciduous oak tree. By utilizing the factory precision of modular timber fabrication, we were able to drop these structures into a highly sensitive ecosystem in just seven hours with virtually zero site alteration.” She continues, “Spatially, the design is an exercise in mindful proximity—carefully angling the homes so that my family and I share the stunning wildflower meadow views, without ever looking into each other's windows.”

Broadcast & Streaming Information

• Live: America ByDESIGN™
• When: Every Saturday at 9:00 PM EDT on CBS News (including the CBS News New York Livestream).
• Where to Stream: Available via the CBS News App on all major smart TVs and devices (iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, etc.), as well as a national FAST channel simulcast on Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and Smart Healthy Green Living (SHGL).

About Studio Schicketanz

Studio Schicketanz is a full-service architecture, interior design and consultancy firm based in Carmel, California that is sought after for its ability to weave together deeply philosophical approaches to landscape, architecture, and interior design with a focused emphasis on livability. Originally from Austria, founder Gabriele Mary Ann Schicketanz–a practicing architect for more than two decades, with a portfolio spanning the Western United States and Europe–is known for creating  designs that offer classic simplicity and natural elegance. Mary Ann serves on the Board of the Philip Glass Center and is the former AIA Monterey Bay President.

About Gabriele Mary Ann Schicketanz, AIA

Gabriele Mary Ann has been a practicing architect for more than three decades, with a portfolio spanning the Western United States, as well as Europe. A native of Austria, she brings a European sensibility to the practice of sustainable building and design. She is known for creating designs that offer classic simplicity and natural elegance, efficient floor plans and easy flow. A leader in the integration of green design principles with strong thematic design concepts, her work is widely published and she frequently speaks on the subject.

About ByDESIGN™

ByDESIGN™ is a premier global media brand dedicated to showcasing the built environment through deep, narrative-driven storytelling. Covering architecture, interiors, landscape, hospitality, innovation, and experience design, ByDESIGN™ brings the world’s most compelling design stories to audiences globally across broadcast, streaming, digital, and social platforms.