Reading the ground

A house begins with more than a view. The slope, existing trees, exposed rock, and the path of arrival all offer a structure for design.

Our reviews look at where a building touches the ground, where it leaves room for landscape, and how its outdoor spaces connect to everyday life. Plans and sections can reveal these relationships more clearly than an exterior photograph alone.

The question is not simply whether a house appears to blend in. It is whether its placement makes the site more understandable and inhabitable.