The 3,200 sf. residence occupies a difficult portion of a northern sloped hillside, overlooking a verdant valley toward Castle Rock. The steep terrain necessitated a compartmentalized plan capable of negotiating the gentle hillock at the center of the site. A corridor/bridge spans between two pieces of the house, uniting living and sleeping spaces, and allowing an existing watercourse to flow essentially through the house unobstructed.

Granite slab steps and a graceful hand-forged handrail negotiate a richly planted hillside. The challenge of this site was to design functional living spaces while resolving a series of problems. Two entry courts offer suitable welcomes to the home: a formal granite court that is approached from above as one descends down a once blind driveway, and a more utilitarian play court off the garage. The rear yard, once disconnected from the house, is terraced and suitable for entertaining. A granite stair descends from the terrace to a new expanded lower lawn. A custom fire pit sits off the upper terrace and provides a more intimate gathering space.

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Perched along the hillside of Via De La Paz, this residence is defined by the way it negotiates elevation. At its core, the project is an exploration of proportion and hierarchy — a multi-level home shaped by the site’s natural topography and oriented to capture ocean views. The design works with the constraints of the hillside, using changes in elevation to create a layered sequence of indoor and outdoor spaces. Traditional Spanish elements inform the overall character, while a more restrained approach keeps the home grounded and livable. Stone and stucco cladding, a tiled roof, and arched openings reference classic precedents, while steel doors and windows introduce a quieter transitional quality. The layout was designed to support California’s indoor–outdoor lifestyle without sacrificing intimacy. Terraces, balconies, and connected living spaces create openness, while the scale and flow of each level remain thoughtful and contained.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Perched along the hillside of Via De La Paz, this residence is defined by the way it negotiates elevation. At its core, the project is an exploration of proportion and hierarchy — a multi-level home shaped by the site’s natural topography and oriented to capture ocean views. The design works with the constraints of the hillside, using changes in elevation to create a layered sequence of indoor and outdoor spaces. Traditional Spanish elements inform the overall character, while a more restrained approach keeps the home grounded and livable. Stone and stucco cladding, a tiled roof, and arched openings reference classic precedents, while steel doors and windows introduce a quieter transitional quality. The layout was designed to support California’s indoor–outdoor lifestyle without sacrificing intimacy. Terraces, balconies, and connected living spaces create openness, while the scale and flow of each level remain thoughtful and contained.

Perched along the hillside of Via De La Paz, this residence is defined by the way it negotiates elevation. At its core, the project is an exploration of proportion and hierarchy — a multi-level home shaped by the site’s natural topography and oriented to capture ocean views. The design works with the constraints of the hillside, using changes in elevation to create a layered sequence of indoor and outdoor spaces. Traditional Spanish elements inform the overall character, while a more restrained approach keeps the home grounded and livable. Stone and stucco cladding, a tiled roof, and arched openings reference classic precedents, while steel doors and windows introduce a quieter transitional quality. The layout was designed to support California’s indoor–outdoor lifestyle without sacrificing intimacy. Terraces, balconies, and connected living spaces create openness, while the scale and flow of each level remain thoughtful and contained.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Nestled at the top of a steeply sloped wooded site, this backyard retreat offers a quiet sanctuary tucked away in a busy west Austin neighborhood. This efficiently planned accessory dwelling unit comprises a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living area. The approach to the retreat is via a winding path up the woodland hill that arrives at a generous wrap-around porch. The path and porch are connected by a small bridge that negotiates the difference in terrain and provides an experiential cue of transitioning to a secluded and protected environment. Tall interior spaces give a sense of airiness to each room while the kitchen window seat provides views into the surrounding trees. Interior finishes include post-oak flooring, handmade ceramic tile, stone countertops, and custom millwork wainscoting, evoking a cottage-like domesticity that enhances the sense of solitude and rejuvenation from the pressures and stress of the everyday world.

Perched along the hillside of Via De La Paz, this residence is defined by the way it negotiates elevation. At its core, the project is an exploration of proportion and hierarchy — a multi-level home shaped by the site’s natural topography and oriented to capture ocean views. The design works with the constraints of the hillside, using changes in elevation to create a layered sequence of indoor and outdoor spaces. Traditional Spanish elements inform the overall character, while a more restrained approach keeps the home grounded and livable. Stone and stucco cladding, a tiled roof, and arched openings reference classic precedents, while steel doors and windows introduce a quieter transitional quality. The layout was designed to support California’s indoor–outdoor lifestyle without sacrificing intimacy. Terraces, balconies, and connected living spaces create openness, while the scale and flow of each level remain thoughtful and contained.