Upslope House

Upslope House

New Construction

This single family home is built on an infill lot that sloped steeply upward from the street.   The architects dealt with the topography through a series of retaining walls and a split level design.  The first excavation cut leveled the upper third of the lot creates space for most of the conditioned living and a private walled rear courtyard.  A second group of retaining walls in the middle third of the property make way for an auto court connecting to the garage, and a mudroom and staircase to reach the main level.

The house is comprised of intersecting rectangle shaped gabled roof volumes.  The orientation of the buildings create privacy and a sense of seclusion.  While the project style leans modern, the exterior finishes are warm and timeless; “Old Texas” long format brick, stained Douglas Fir soffits and accent siding, and a paint grip standing seam metal roof.  The interiors are clean and simple.  Highlights include window walls with long views from the hilltop vista, a plaster clad fireplace massing, and a kitchen featuring a custom waxed steel vent hood and deep floating stone shelves.

The concrete work to create the terracing for the project was extensive, and the lot gave us plenty of challenges moving men and materials up its steep terrain.