XTEN

Sep 9, 2022

This residence is embedded into a sharply sloping hillside property, a challenging site that led to the creation of a house that is both integrated into nature and open to the city beyond. The structure and detailing of the house is more complex than it appears. Extensive grading and terraced retaining walls were developed to extend the first floor living level into the hillside and to create a garden terraces on each level. Front, side and rear elevations of the house slide open to erase all boundaries between indoors and out and connect the spaces to gardens and terraces on three levels. Deep overhangs serve as solar protection for the double-pane glazing and become progressively larger as the main elevation of the building follows the hillside contours from Eastern to Southwestern exposure. Every elevation of the house opens to capture the prevailing breezes to passively ventilate and cool the house. Set in a visible hillside area above the city, the residence appears as a strong...