Topography is an interesting aspect of building design language. Although a steep slope will provide a blank canvas for designers to tell their own stories. Besides, this type of land often has limitations in the excavation that poses potential problems during the development.

This time, team Bato studio received a brief from our client with the requirements to design a new house from scratch. The site is located on an inclined area surrounded by bushland with a noticeable difference between the front and back. On the other hand, the local council only allowed 1 meter for cut & fill with a height limitation of 9 meters. Those constraints were thoroughly considered during our concept stage.

To solve the problem of the complicated site, we divided the house into multiple zones following the changes in height. The ground floor had two zones with the lobby, powder room, garages, and other supporting areas located at the front of the house. At the back of the house, the living room, kitchen, and dining room followed the natural inclination of the site and stepped down 1 meter. This solution would help to increase the maximum ceiling height in the living and dining area. The steeped end of the site allowed the unobstructed view of the swimming pool and the backyard from the living room. This solution also created an interesting building flow and rhythm in the house.

The solution for this project was a perfect example of our team’s philosophy in design. We always aim to follow the direction that Mother Nature presents to us and achieve the best outcome for our clients.