Perched high above Hempstead Harbor on Long Island’s North Shore, this proposed residence is shaped by a steep, dramatic site and an expansive relationship to the water. From the outset, the design focused on preserving the natural topography while positioning the home to capture the property’s strongest views, orientation, and daylight.

Extensive study of aerial imagery and the surrounding landscape informed the placement of the residence and its primary view corridors. Rather than substantially regrading the hillside, the design establishes a series of elevated platforms supported on slender structural posts. The foundation strategy responds directly to the logistical challenges of the terrain: drilling equipment can operate from the limited flat portion of the site, utilizing a slurry system to drill and form concrete piers . Steel columns rise from these foundations to support steel and concrete platforms above, allowing the house to engage the hillside with a lighter footprint and reduced disturbance to the landscape.

The residence is organized to take full advantage of its elevated vantage point. Walls of glass open the interiors toward Hempstead Harbor, while expansive green roof terraces extend the living spaces outdoors and visually connect the architecture back to the surrounding landscape. The juxtaposition of the living level over the bedroom level creates access to planted and paved roof terraces to be utilized for outdoor entertainment. As the building steps down the steep grade, it appears as one story from the street which respects the scale of the adjacent homes.

Approached from the cul-de-sac, the street-facing elevation is comparatively restrained. The facade is organized through clean lines, balanced proportions, and a limited material palette, with depth created through recessed openings, changes in plane, and material texture. Window placement is carefully controlled to maintain privacy from the street, while the harbor-facing elevations become progressively more open and transparent.

The result is a home conceived as an extension of its hillside setting—using structure, landscape, daylight, and carefully framed views to create an architecture uniquely responsive to its place.

The project plans are approved and currently awaiting acquisition of the property to begin construction.