Torreyson Hillside Residence

A reconfigured hillside landscape expands the usable garden, organizing a sequence of outdoor spaces that frame views while creating moments of privacy and discovery.

What was once a constrained edge condition is transformed into a layered environment, where movement reveals a series of distinct spaces. The garden unfolds gradually, balancing openness with enclosure and establishing a stronger connection between the home and its hillside setting.

Design Approach

The landscape is defined by a strategic reworking of the site’s topography. A new retaining wall stabilizes the slope while increasing the usable depth of the yard, establishing the foundation for a more expansive and functional garden.

Circulation is used to shape the experience. Paths guide movement through a sequence of spaces, allowing the landscape to unfold over time rather than be understood at once. Open areas are balanced with more contained moments, creating variation within a cohesive framework.

At a key point within the garden, a recessed sitting area is set slightly below grade, forming a quiet focal space that provides enclosure while directing attention outward toward the views. This shift in elevation also reduces the perceived height of the retaining wall, allowing it to integrate more naturally into the landscape.

Planting establishes both structure and atmosphere. A layered palette of flowering species introduces seasonal variation and supports pollinators, while hedging and massing define edges and create privacy around the primary bedroom terrace. Plant material is carefully selected to provide immediate presence within the constraints of hillside access.

A fountain is aligned with a primary interior window, creating a direct visual connection between the house and garden and reinforcing the relationship between interior and exterior.

The result is a hillside landscape that feels expanded and intentional, where topography, circulation, and planting work together to create a sequence of spaces that balance openness, privacy, and connection to the surrounding views.

Credit
Landscape Installer: Serrascape
Photographer: Erika Bierman