HILLSIDE

This house for a young family sits on a steep hillside, stretching out to frame mountain views unique to the site. The house slots into its wooded hillside site, taking advantage of a natural clearing between impressive rock outcroppings.

The house is arranged with an open plan yet discrete wings to balance privacy with openness. A central sculptural stair links the main levels together to become the communication zone for the house and focal point with views up and down the hill. The main floor steps to follow the contours of the site yet the number of steps were minimized to enhance the flow of the house.

The volumes of the house are arranged to create a sheltered courtyard, the fourth side of which is provided by the steep hillside behind. The house blends with the landscape, creating and outdoor living and dining room as well as utilizing natural rock outcroppings to create more intimate outdoor spaces. The end walls and roof edges extend for shading and the walls are oriented to frame unique features of the site including breathtaking views across the valley to the neighboring mesa and nearby La Plata mountains.

location // DURANGO, CO

year // 2018

client // PRIVATE

status // COMPLETED

category // HOUSING