Since our homes are so closely integrated with the topograpy of the site and the path of the sun, it's important for us to become familiar with the land before we begin a new design project. We also need to understand the design needs of our customers and make sure they fit their building budget. Our Predesign Worksheet along with conversations with our clients give us the answers to our design questions. Our Cost Estimate Worksheet helps us determine if the budget is adequate for the project.

our site visit: topography, views, solar orientation, access:
In our case, the property is challenging. It is a one acre parcel and the front 2/3 of the lot is in a flood zone. Fortunately, the land rises at the very north end of the lot allowing for a small building pad. This lot had been on the market for quite a while and probably hadn't sold for this reason. Lucky for us!

With setbacks, the buildable area is even smaller. Since the lot is so impacted by the flood zone, we are requesting a 10' variance (from a 25' rear set-back to a 15') in order to site our home as far back from the arroyo (flood zone) as possible. We will also have to build a scour wall to protect our home from possible flooding. The scour wall will become our courtyard wall above ground, but will extend below ground to the level of the bottom of the flood zone. It will be a solid barrier that will keep the hill we're building on from eroding in the case of a flood.

Since the specific direction and location of outdoor spaces in relation to indoor spaces determines the overall comfort (and therefore usability) of outdoor space, we design them as an integral unit. This requires a knowledge of the land before the plan can be decided upon.