🏡 Designing on a Hillside – Good vs. Bad Practices

❌ Wrong Approach (Top Image)

• Building stands out against the landscape, looking artificial.

• Uses materials and finishes that don’t match the natural environment.

• Creates a long driveway with deep cuts and high retaining walls.

• Disrupts views from below, making the house look intrusive.

⚠️ Overall: This method damages the hillside’s natural look and increases construction difficulty and cost.

✅ Right Approach (Bottom Image)

• Building tucked into the hillside, blending naturally with the slope.

• Materials and finishes complement the landscape (stone, wood, earth tones).

• Driveway slope follows natural topography, avoiding deep cuts.

• Graded site makes the house look like it emerges from the slope.

• Preserves views from below while maintaining harmony with nature.

🌱 Overall: This method is sustainable, aesthetic, and cost-effective.

✨ Key Takeaway

When building on a hillside:

• Blend, don’t dominate 🌿 (use natural colors & textures).

• Work with the slope, not against it.

• Minimize cuts and walls, let the house flow with the land.

• Preserve views for both residents and the community.