The site was the inspiration for the project’s design, requiring creative solution to complex environmental factors. Strict zoning guidelines for slope lots, poor soil condition, dynamic programmatic requirements, desired adjacencies, and panoramic views posed critical challenges to the building´s occupation of the site, but both client and architect envisioned the remarkable possibilities that the site offered, if the challenge could be overcome.

The architectural aim was to create a house that emerges from the earth, blending the site, soil, place, and form into an expression inspired by the unique conditions of this place and time.

The result was a 800-square-meters L-shape house sited so that every room is oriented toward the lake views. The exception is the guest room on the ground floor, which are oriented toward the olive court. Interior layout is designed to maximize the indoor/outdoor relationship yet zoned to provide privacy when entertaining guests. With stunning views across a golf course toward a near lake, this largely single-aspect house uses the slope of the site to maximum advantage.

Entry is through a double-height ceiling hall, flooded with natural light, that connects the two forms in an L-shape. This space opens on two axes, one to the exteriors gardens and swimming pool, and the other to the interior living spaces. Here a choice is made to proceed into either of two wings: to the right the informal living area surrounds a functional kitchen. To the left is a formal living room whit a generous adjoining library and office; two guest bedrooms suites are located above on the ground floor. The first floor accommodates the master bedroom suite and the art areas. Services spaces, housing housekeeper´s quarters, a double garage, laundry, playing room and a cinema are located on the basement, as well the technical room.

The central focus of the composition is the stair connecting the three floors in the main entrance hall, a delicate form which reflects light by day and night. As it is viewed from different sides it’s possible to have a complete view across the space. At night concealed uplights shine across the warped white planes and provide drama internally and from outside.

The house responds to all orientations in a specific way. Every room in the house orients itself north to maximize the view to the golf course and the lake. The south, west and east openings are kept to a minimum reducing heat gain and overlooking to neighboring properties.

The house was designed using the principles of sustainable design, resulting in a building that is environmentally responsible and healthy place to live. This was achieved by implementing energy efficient lightning, heat and cooling, orienting the glazed areas and living spaces to achieve low energy usage, integration of design elements with passive shading and ventilation function for heat and cooling the rooms, and using passive solar photovoltaic and hot water roof panels for electricity, in-floor heating and swimming pool heating, also collecting the rain water into underground cisterns for landscape irrigation, and the introduction of native landscaping, to achieve water savings.

The end result is a scheme that resolves the inherent complexities of the site with the desired living conditions of the client, and furthers existing notions of materiality and transparency with seamless integration.