A modern house built on a hillside with large glass windows and surrounded by tall pine trees at sunset.

Foresthill Housing Study

The Foresthill Housing Study began with a developer asking how homes could be built on a very steep site without the large cuts and fills common to hillside development. The goal was to preserve as much of the existing forest and ground as possible, recognizing that major regrading changes these landscapes for generations.

Rather than using walkout basements to absorb the slope, the study lifts smaller dwellings on concrete fins and approaches them from the side. This reduces excavation and allows the existing ground to continue beneath the buildings.

Wildfire risk shaped the construction from the outset. CLT roof and floor assemblies were studied as continuous, unvented layers with fewer vulnerable cavities, while simple roof forms and the omission of gutters reduce places for pine needles and other debris to collect. The houses give up some of the area expected in a conventional hillside home, but in return leave substantially more of the site intact.

House in a deep winter landscape, with broad glazing and exterior lights against snow-covered trees and mountains.
A modern house with flat roofs and large windows, surrounded by trees, featuring a rooftop pool, outdoor seating area, and solar panels on the roof.
Modern kitchen with wood cabinets, large window overlooking trees, small dining table with two chairs and a bench, and a bowl of pears on the counter.
Modern living room with large windows overlooking a scenic landscape, wooden furniture, and minimal decor.
Person standing on an elevated terrace at dusk, looking across the surrounding trees and mountains.
Modern living room with large glass windows overlooking a scenic landscape with trees and a lake. Features a beige sectional sofa, two cushioned chairs, a black coffee table, a fireplace, and built-in bookshelves.
Long, low house on a forested hillside at dusk, with warm interior light visible through broad glazing.
Snow-covered house among pine trees, with a long glazed living space overlooking the steep winter landscape.