Built Into the Slope, Not On It

Rather than cut and fill a steep Barton Hills lot, the house steps down it in three shifted volumes connected by a glass bridge. Structural steel and floor-to-ceiling glazing run throughout — there’s no wall in the house without a view of the greenbelt. The lowest volume opens directly onto a private trailhead.

The Fine Print

Foundation engineering alone took four months longer than a standard build, which is part of why so few houses like this get built well. Buyer’s structural inspection is worth the extra week — ask for the full geotechnical report, not just the standard disclosure.