GREWE HOUSE

BERKELEY, CA
Most of the remaining house sites in the Berkeley hills are on unusually on steep sites.  The program for one such site is modest and highly unusual; a two room house consisting of one living space and one sleeping space. The design is intended to minimize the environmental impact of site work.  The three supporting walls are parallel to the slope of the land, allowing runoff to flow in an unimpeded fashion.The major spans between these points of support is accomplished with the use of stress skin walls. In the living area the spanning wall is horizontally split, providing a clear expanse of glass in the direction of major views.  In the sleeping space, the spanning wall is kept whole, while the end view is given to a private garden.  The special case of the entry allows a cantilever projection, which is entered by steps from below