Completed in October 2004, the Hill House was designed under challenging conditions generated by the modern problems of building on a hillside. Located in Pacific Palisades, California, USA, the site offers panoramic views from Rustic and Sullivan Canyons to Santa Monica Bay and the irregularly shaped lot is situated on an uneven, downhill slope.

With the canonical Eames House nearby, the 3300 square foot Hill House provocatively continues the Case Study House tradition of experimentation and reinvention of Los Angeles lifestyles. This residential property has recently been selected for an American Architecture Award, a credible accolade for a project that was once considered to be too challenging to be successful.

The ultimate house on a hill

Labelled an impossibility this house has defied all critics and stands as a modern example of the iconic architecture that has long since graced the hills of Los Angeles. Perched on a cliff-side on the Pacific Palisades the geography of the site brought with it a multitude of problems.

Johnston & Marklee were commissioned to provide a speculative house in 2000 for a developer on this problematic piece of land. The conditions of the slope, the shape of the lot and the tight restricted site all made the process difficult. In addition to these physical complexities it is becoming increasingly common in Los Angeles that local hillside ordinances, building codes, coastal regulations, and design review boards are being imposed to restrict hillside construction, limiting building heights, location and massing. These measures were aimed to preserve the profile of the hill. The Hill House sets a new precedent for hillside building by liberating itself from these restraints - not through evasion - but by strategically transforming these stringent criteria into a sculptural and efficient design solution, that engages with the surrounding site.

The dynamic form of the house minimises the distinction between roof and wall planes while maximising the distinction between the interior and exterior. The crisp lines of the house are accentuated by intelligent use of materials. The exterior is clad in an unusual coating, flexible and requiring no control joints. The material's iridescent quality results in dramatic colour variations with changing light conditions throughout the day. The interior materials are similarly rich in their tactility. Varying shades of white, including polished Carrara marble, smooth Corian countertops, lacquered wood, and enamelled steel combine to form a seamless fusion, occasionally accented by darkly stained walnut flooring and cabinets.

Evocative of the past iconic works in the Los Angeles area, which goes back to include some classic works by Richard Neutra, this building exemplifies a change from the earlier phase of building. Whilst mid 20th century architecture embodied the glamour of old Hollywood, today things have changed, as modest pragmatic houses such as this are being created in a socially responsible way. Today's architects demonstrate an awareness that they are responsible to how the city evolves and it is evident that Los Angeles architecture has a huge effect on what happens in the rest of the world.

ARCHITECT: JOHNSTON MARKLEE