The site is part of a subdivision of an old estate, with two magnificent deodar cedars at the street and a gigantic Italian stone pine near the center of the lot. The architects used the pine as an umbrella over the house. Numerous smaller trees were contributing factors in the initial concept. When designing the house, the architects proceeded on the assumption that vacant adjoining lots would soon be building sites, and they focused the plan inward. The scheme they developed is a series of intimate and expanding court relationships.
All major rooms open directly onto courts and decks.
Overhangs were omitted because of the numerous trees on the property and adjoining lots, while the preciseness is a consequence of the engineered house. The factory-built house is always more pristine than the one with a freer organization. The panels, vaults and box beams were trucked to the site and handled by fork life hoist, which made rapid erection possible. The vaults covering the central area of the house were positioned and initially secured in less than an hour and a half. No special difficulties were encountered other than locating the bearing elements precisely.