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| Site conditions and the Owners' program drove the design. How to provide flowing indoor space with useful outdoor living while giving protection from an inhospitable environment was an exciting design challenge. The residence is located at the edge of a metropolitan district with spectacular 360° views. The site overlooks a 150' south facing cliff, a steep northern ravine, a city panorama to the east and a mountain range to the west. The rocky, rattlesnake-inhabited terrain is subject to heavy winds and wide temperature differences.
The Owners requested a residence which would be a respite from their daily professional work, a residence which would require minimum maintenance with ample space to showcase their extensive art collection. A sheltered access from the 3-car garage to the house guaranteed that the best location on the site could be used for the residence without compromising security, privacy, or access to vehicles in inclement weather. The site is being returned to its original semi-arid landscape. The cliff face, composed of limestone and sandstone underlaid with eroding shale is subject to continuous failure from gravitational pull. In a symbolic countering of this force, a 58' steel truss pierces the house, providing a 27' cantilevered skywalk which appears to "float" above the cliff.
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