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The site for the SKYHOUSE slopes from north to south with a 15-foot difference in elevation.  The house is tucked into the hillside, taking advantage of the inherrent thermal qualities of the earth.  The smooth white plaster volumes appear as if they are emerging from the landscape on the north and float above board formed concrete walls that lead to a sunken garage to the south.  The house is organized by a series of offset volumes, whose placement and relationship to one another define a negative space flowing seamlessly between them and out into the landscape.  The main living area resides at the center of the house, defined by four solid volumes around it.  The volumes become canvases for art washed by a soft diffuse light from the skylights above.  The Living Room extends to an exterior terrace with a white plaster infinity pool.  Full height sliding glass doors pocket away, connecting the living room and open family/dining/kitchen area to the pool terrace, creating one contiguous indoor/outdoor area.   This connection is reinforced with white terrazzo floors that run seamlessly from interior to exterior.  

The SKYHOUSE was designed with many sustainable features in mind.  The house is naturally insulated by tucking into the hillside.  The skylights are tinted and contain a diffuse pvc membrane reducing the solar intake while providing plenty of natural light, reducing the need for artificial daylighting.  Sliding glass doors throughout the house allow for passive cooling and cross ventilation.  Native drought resistant plants were used throughout the property, much of which is irrigated through rain tanks that capture and reuse the rainfall on site, reducing the storm water runoff and the demand for irrigation.