A HOUSE THAT STEPS DOWN THE HILLSIDE

The Lavell Drive Residence is located on a steep hillside overlooking Mount Washington. The house cascades down the slope, following the natural change in grade while working within the site's strict height requirements.

The roof is a continuous folded plane that responds to the different constraints along the site. At the rear of the house, the 45-degree side-yard encroachment plane drives the roof upward into an A-frame form. As the roof moves toward the front of the house, it folds down into a flatter profile to meet the height requirement established by the HOA. This creates a continuous roof form that changes in section across the house while responding directly to the site's zoning and neighborhood requirements.

The A-frame portion of the roof forms a double-height space within the main level, giving the interior a loft-like character while allowing the house to maintain a relatively low profile from the hillside.

Large windows and expansive decks bring natural light into the interior and extend the living spaces toward the surrounding landscape. As the house steps down the slope, the relationship between the interior spaces, decks, and hillside changes, creating different connections to the landscape at each level.

The design uses the site's topography and regulatory requirements to shape the house rather than treating them as limitations. The result is a residence that follows the hillside while the continuous folded roof responds to the changing conditions from the rear of the property to the front.

PROJECT TEAM: COLBY MAYES, VINCENT TO 

COLLABORATORS: GEOTECH INC. (GEOLOGY)