Hillside Prototype

The Hillside Prototype began as a study of how to build on steep Okanagan slopes without first cutting a flat bench into them. Conventional hillside construction often starts by blasting, retaining and regrading the site. This study asks whether the house can adjust to the slope instead.

A narrow floor plate is carried on steel posts pinned to bedrock, reducing continuous concrete foundations and allowing drainage and vegetation to continue beneath the building. The roof drops toward the uphill side and projects outward to shade the west-facing openings and outdoor space.

Wildfire risk is treated as part of the same problem. A weathering steel shell protects the exterior, while openings are concentrated where daylight, views and access require them. These conditions recur on residential hillsides across the Okanagan, including Kelowna, where steep ground, drainage, wildfire exposure and long western views often coincide. The study tests how structure, shade and fire resistance can work together while leaving more of the hillside intact.