This wooded courtyard house designed for Tab and Bob Ewing, proud parents of four daughters, is carved (conceptually) out of the earth, creating a secure, sheltered family environment, it is filled with light throughout the day.

We drew hundreds of sketches to resolve the project's form. In the resolved shape, a long sloped roof echoes the hillside slope, while a rectangular volume containing the children's bedrooms floats above an earthen berm. Each bedroom contains a carefully detailed bay window that will become a comfortable place for the children to relax and dream.

The interior is as open as possible, enabling the parents to keep a careful eye on their kids. The kitchen is the house control center: From there the three outdoor courts, the den, and the living room are all clearly visible. Energy costs will be low, thanks to geothermal wells, radiant heat, and earth-sheltered construction.