Situated below a dead-end street in the Orange County foothills, this property offers a degree of peace and seclusion that is rare in Orange County. The owners were drawn to the shady site for its views of the surrounding suburbs and Santa Ana mountains beyond, but weren't satisfied with the layout of the existing 1960s ranch house. The house, while functional, had no real relationship to the site or its views, leading the owners to propose significant changes to the existing structure.

After many months of design, and numerous layout studies, the decision was made to insert a new 2-story volume into the existing house and remodel the remaining 50% of the structure. A series of volumes were carved out of the 2-story addition to create overhangs and functional outdoor space. Wood slates were inserted on the exterior facade and and interior entry to provide definition and serve as privacy screens. Metal fins were applied to the North facade to provide shading and delineate the fenestration.