Located in the Montclair area of Oakland hills, this is a proposal for a single-family house on a hillside lot. The steep terrain presented many challenges, not least of which was figuring out where to place the vertical circulation - both stairs and elevator - in its optimum location.

There were a few main criteria we had to contend with and address simultaneously: First, planning guidelines for hillside lots in Oakland; second, retaining walls must be stepped to counter hydrostatic pressures of the soil; and lastly, the experience of the house shouldn’t feel onerous due to the quantity of stairs.

However, there were advantages that made this lot desirable. In plan, this lot skews, which, unlike the other surrounding lots that are rectangular, allowing for more “building frontage.” The lot abuts the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve with many hiking trails through its lush forest. Therefore, along with the more objective design criteria, the plan of the house staggers as it terraces uphill, allowing for a direct connection to the preserve.