This house was built in the desert of Chihuahua in northern Mexico to the golf club nearby. Architectural feature that is defined by two main factors: the topography and local climate characteristics – day and night temperature drop exceeds 20 degrees. In this case, it was decided to use the thermal inertia of soil and buried some houses on the ground. This building has two facades – a simple rectangular volume with a street party and complex, almost sculptural slope section. steep topography makes planning a complex multi-layered, but the goal – the interior is organized around a series of pages and break the roof, which provide light and ventilation and stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Small area with a slope to 68 degrees (in the first 10 meters) and the client’s desire to have a house with a terrace space will be at a predetermined level architect’s decision. In the case of a “classic” will perform a large amount of earthwork. In a decision may restrict the volume is relatively small – front (bottom) part of the plot width of 5.5 m was taken to the garage, above, on top of finished retaining wall sign height 4.4 m. To lift (level 15.5 m) provided the stairs and elevator. The main volume – long parallelepiped – including gazebo-sitting room with a classic three full glass walls and views in 180 degrees, located in the same area with niche-kitchen and 3 bedrooms with windows overlooking a small flat area with a swimming pool. At the bottom, a hidden area containing additional facilities and sauna. simple constructive scheme: 16 column on a pole foundation, and 4 blocks – 2 below and 2 (inverted) on top. Incidentally, this solution is acceptable for use in the Russian Black Sea coast – there are many almost empty flat fixed. Problems at work can only zemleukrepitelnyh zonal cost and high seismicity (7-9 points).

Siting is limited by the shape of a flag lot, large front yard setback is required, the merger of the public road shared by two other homes, the perimeter area of wetlands and preservation of hay field east of the site buildings. A ten-foot east-west decrease in elevation classes in buildable area allows the lower level will be tucked into the existing slope. Site, flag-shaped lot, located in south Amherst, Massachusetts has dramatic views east to the nearest meadow and into the hills outside of Pelham.