The emphasis of this residence was to blend the building components into the natural elements of the surrounding landscape and being sensitive to the site. This was achieved through the use of "stepped" design to allow the home to follow the natural contours to achieve a more balanced site by having very little import or export of fill material. There is a strong connection between interior and exterior through the placement of the openings and the flow of the living space from inside to outside. The home was oriented in order to capture the best views from the lot, while also considering the prevailing winds to help cool the house. The use of differing exterior materials and their subdued colors help the home fade into the natural surroundings. As much natural landscaping as possible was conserved to help reduce erosion and the construction footprint.
The design also incorporates many sustainable features such as, recycled building materials, enhanced indoor environmental quality, high efficiency lighting, low-e windows, continuous insulation on the exterior, native and low-water consuming landscaping, to name a few.