This custom home sits astride a steep hillside in La Jolla. The site’s steep slope presented the challenge of maximizing views while creating usable outdoor space with a structure that is essentially floating above the hill. The house takes advantage of its difficult site by carefully stepping down the hillside to create indoor/outdoor terraces on each level with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The design avoided major earthwork and tall retaining walls by utilizing a structural system that effectively allows the structure to float above the landscape and minimize disturbance to the hillside. The design uses a simple rectangular floor plate with an angled wall running the length of the house. This angled wall pushed right up to the limits of its zoning envelope allowing the main level to accommodate the owner’s requirement to consolidate all of the main living spaces onto one level, while maximizing access to the ocean views. Floor-to-ceiling glass and large skylights allow ample natural lighting throughout and unobstructed views that extend from La Jolla Cove to Blacks Beach.