Sebastopol Hillside I

Sebastopol Hillside I is a modern hillside home designed around the opportunities and constraints of its sloping site. Created for a young family, the flexible family home responds to a triangular buildable area shaped by a view easement, shared driveway requirements and the desire to capture views across Sebastopol and the mountains beyond. The layout is organized around a clear circulation path, linking the entry, living spaces and stairway while allowing rooms to adapt as the family’s needs change. A main-level bedroom can become an en-suite guest room, the dining room can be screened off as a playroom, and the upstairs family room has been designed with the potential to become a fourth bedroom in the future. This modern hillside home balances openness, privacy and long-term liveability. Mature fir trees form a natural backdrop to the house, while carefully placed openings frame views, bring in natural light and connect the interiors to the landscape. As a flexible family home, it also integrates passive design strategies, with open volumes, operable skylights, insulation and low-emissivity glazing helping to reduce reliance on air conditioning.