Private Residence #6

The tight, sloping site forced the project to turn its back on the street to the north and instead open towards the magnificent view to the south. The entrance, located on the side, brings you into a central circulation space. A stair carries you down to the sloping site beyond.

The tight, sloping site forced the project to turn its back on the street to the north and instead open towards the magnificent view to the south. The entrance, located on the side, brings you into a central circulation space. The core is lit with north-angled operable skylights to flood the interior with natural light & ventilation.

The combined living/dining/kitchen opens onto the balcony with a massive sliding door. Floor to ceiling glass and transom windows on the south elevation allow for natural lighting & ventilation. The kitchen has dark shaker cabinets & dark gray countertops, with stainless steel appliances & hardware.

The combined living/dining/kitchen opens onto the balcony with a massive sliding door. Floor to ceiling glass and transom windows on the south elevation allow for natural lighting & ventilation. The open plan and brilliant lighting allow plenty of space for displaying art.

The combined living/dining/kitchen opens onto the balcony with a massive sliding door. Floor to ceiling glass and transom windows on the south elevation allow for natural lighting & ventilation. A large island separates the kitchen from the rest of the space.

The combined living/dining/kitchen opens onto the balcony with a massive sliding door. Floor to ceiling glass and transom windows on the south elevation allow for natural lighting & ventilation.

The combined living/dining/kitchen opens onto the balcony with a massive sliding door. Floor to ceiling glass and transom windows on the south elevation allow for natural lighting & ventilation. The connection to the balcony allows the space to expand into the outside.

The combined living/dining/kitchen opens onto the balcony with a massive sliding door. Floor to ceiling glass and transom windows on the south elevation allow for natural lighting & ventilation. The dining area allows you to enjoy the view during meals.

The combined living/dining/kitchen opens onto the balcony with a massive sliding door. Floor to ceiling glass and transom windows on the south elevation allow for natural lighting & ventilation. The wrap-around windows in each corner makes the design seem to expand beyond the house

The balcony has glass guards to ensure that the one-in-a-million view is never blocked, even when sitting. The floor above overhangs to provide cover and block harsh summer sun, while allowing low winter warmth.

The balcony has glass guards to ensure that the one-in-a-million view is never blocked, even when sitting. The floor above overhangs to provide cover and block harsh summer sun, while allowing low winter warmth. The cantilevered space lets you see not only the main view of downtown Pittsburgh, but a full 360 degree up an down the rivers.

The combined living/dining/kitchen opens onto the balcony with a massive sliding door. Floor to ceiling glass and transom windows on the south elevation allow for natural lighting & ventilation. The plentiful natural light allows for extensive use of potted plants of all kinds.

The balcony has glass guards to ensure that the one-in-a-million view is never blocked, even when sitting. The floor above overhangs to provide cover and block harsh summer sun, while allowing low winter warmth. The site offers a spactacular view, not only of downtown Pittsburgh, but of all of the north shore in the foreground, and a good bit up and down the rivers.

The house has a central circulation core lit with north-angled operable skylights to flood the interior with natural light & ventilation.

The house has a central circulation core lit with north-angled operable skylights to flood the interior with natural light & ventilation. The huge vertical height allows the display of large pieces of hanging art.

The front half of the house contains the garage and guest bedrooms. High windows allow natural light while still maintaining privacy from the street.

The master suite is situated on the third floor at the south side of the house. Huge fixed windows open the entire suite to the view of Pittsburgh and natural light, while operable transoms allow natural ventilation.

The master suite is situated on the third floor at the south side of the house. Huge fixed windows open the entire suite to the view of Pittsburgh and natural light, while operable transoms allow natural ventilation. The master bath opens to the bedroom through a short hallway that never breaks the wall of windows.

The master suite is situated on the third floor at the south side of the house. Huge fixed windows open the entire suite to the view of Pittsburgh and natural light, while operable transoms allow natural ventilation. The master bath, open to the bedroom, includes a magnificent deck-mounted tub surrounded by windows.

The master suite is situated on the third floor at the south side of the house. Huge fixed windows open the entire suite to the view of Pittsburgh and natural light, while operable transoms allow natural ventilation. The master bath, open to the bedroom, includes a magnificent deck-mounted tub surrounded by windows. The deck of the tub goes right into the sill of the window, creating the illusion that you're bathing in the sky.

The family room on the basement floor opens with a large sliding door onto a huge patio. A small wet bar compliments the sitting area to create a great hangout space.

The family room on the basement floor opens with a large sliding door onto a huge patio. A small wet bar compliments the sitting area to create a great hangout space. The open stair down from the first floor keeps the space open and allows the natural light to filter down from above.

The family room on the basement floor opens with a large sliding door onto a huge patio. A small wet bar compliments the sitting area to create a great hangout space. Like the living room above, the space extends out into the exterior.

The family room on the basement floor opens with a large sliding door onto a huge patio; complete with an outdoor kitchen, dining, and gas firepit. Once again, glass guards maintain the incredible view. The overhang of the balcony above protects the patio from weather and harsh summer sun.

The family room on the basement floor opens with a large sliding door onto a huge patio; complete with an outdoor kitchen, dining, and gas firepit. Once again, glass guards maintain the incredible view.

The family room on the basement floor opens with a large sliding door onto a huge patio; complete with an outdoor kitchen, dining, and gas firepit. Once again, glass guards maintain the incredible view. A built-in grill allows for outdoor cooking, while an outdoor range hood keeps smoke from going into the house.

The family room on the basement floor opens with a large sliding door onto a huge patio; complete with an outdoor kitchen, dining, and gas firepit. Once again, glass guards maintain the incredible view. The floor surface is an open pedestal system that allows drainage to the membrane below.

The family room on the basement floor opens with a large sliding door onto a huge patio; complete with an outdoor kitchen, dining, and gas firepit. Once again, glass guards maintain the incredible view. The decorative gas firepit is connected to a hard gas line to allow for easy use.

This photo showcases how the project's simple geometric form extends out over the steep site. You can see the multiple levels of balconies that cantilever out from the hillside. You can see how the cantilevered spaces extend beyond the neighboring houses, allowing views east and west. The sloping site is planted with native plants to maintain a natural setting.

This photo showcases how the project's simple geometric form extends out over the steep site. You can see the multiple levels of balconies that cantilever out from the hillside. You can see how the cantilevered spaces extend beyond the neighboring houses, allowing views east and west.

This photo showcases how the project's simple geometric form extends out over the steep site. You can see the multiple levels of balconies that cantilever out from the hillside. From the side view you can see the different lengths of the cantilevers that create offsets, allowing the overhang to protect and shade the cantilever below it.

This photo showcases how the project's simple geometric form extends out over the steep site. You can see the multiple levels of balconies that cantilever out from the hillside. You can see how the house avoids extensive excavation by sitting up over the hillside on stilts, instead of digging a foundation down into it.

This photo showcases how the project's simple geometric form extends out over the steep site. You can see the multiple levels of balconies that cantilever out from the hillside. The trim pattern expresses the configuration of canitlevers and windows.

This photo showcases how the project's simple geometric form extends out over the steep site. You can see the multiple levels of balconies that cantilever out from the hillside, and the incredible city view beyond.

This photo showcases how the project's simple geometric form extends out over the steep site. From the street below you can see the way the house perches on the side of the hill, reaching out into the sky.

This design model shows how the project's simple geometric form extends out over the steep site. You can see the multiple levels of balconies that cantilever out from the hillside. This model shows how much details can change between development and the final built project. Building Information Modeling (BIM) allowed us to completely model this entire project and iron out design issues that might have been missed otherwise.