House on the Hill

This house is perched on the side of a steeply sloping site with dramatic 360 degree views over the surrounding valleys and city skyline beyond. Our client wanted to create a bold and expansive family home designed to take advantage of the site’s spectacular views. A vertical drop of 70 metres across the site and vehicle access only via a steep, narrow dirt driveway made this a true buildability challenge.

Our design proposed a linear building that hugs the site’s natural contour lines and works with the existing topography to take advantage of views to the surrounding landscape. Internal accommodation is carefully zoned and split across a series of levels that cascade down the hillside.

At its base, an entry lobby, garage, guest accommodation, theatre and utility areas are accessed from the main driveway. One level up, the main living level is an expansive floor plate designed as a habitable viewing platform, surrounded by full height glazed walls with views across an elevated pool deck to the countryside beyond. A master suite and study are positioned ‘uphill’ behind the main building to create a private sanctuary for the owners.

The design and buildability challenges of this site meant that it was not possible to use materials that need to be craned in for construction. This home is constructed almost entirely of site formed insulated concrete panels. Substantial amounts of thermal mass and smart solar orientation of glazing was coupled with an energy efficient geothermal heating/cooling system to allow this home to minimise energy consumption and optimise occupant comfort all year round.