Designing For A Steep Site

You can’t force a house onto a site like this one. The land will tell you what you can build. Our property’s defining feature is its dramatic slope, and from day one, that steepness dictated the home’s form. Our footprint could be no larger than 27 ft square without dramatic (and cost prohibitive) changes to the slope. Additionally, local code limits building height limits. Luckily our need for space is modest. Our current home is only 1100sf plus a small finished attic. Just enough room for our family of three people, three labradors, and many pounds of dog hair.

Architect Scott Witt envisioned a simple design with three distinct levels. This approach minimizes the building's perceived height from the street and allows each level to have a unique connection to the landscape. The lower level is nestled into the hill, creating a quiet, protected retreat. The main level opens up to the primary outdoor living spaces, blurring the line between the house and the Gorge.

But the real prize is at the top. The climb up the stairs to the third floor is a journey that culminates in a special view. 

As you ascend, the view is intentionally obscured, building anticipation. Then, you step into the primary bedroom suite, and the entire south-facing wall opens up to a perfectly framed, panoramic view of Wy’east (Mt. Hood). The mountain, which is invisible from the lower parts of the property, reveals itself in its full glory. It’s a design moment born entirely from the challenge of the site, a reminder that sometimes the greatest constraints yield the most beautiful results.