Architect Robin Donaldson of Donaldson + Partners was given the task of designing a “house for the twenty-first century” by two artists seeking a residence that challenged the traditional notions of home design. Seamlessly emerging from the landscape, Hill House Montecito unfolds as a sprawling concrete structure, displaying extraordinary gravity and elegance while making an undeniable artistic and architectural statement.
The seven-year project represents Donaldson’s evolution from traditional architectural practice to a more artistically-inclined approach. The project, which was a collaboration between Donaldson and owner Bruce Heavin, was thoughtfully designed to accommodate and support both the creative pursuits and social functions of its inhabitants.
The home’s dramatic entrance features a suspended walkway leading to a custom semi-circular door, immediately announcing the structure’s commitment to curved forms. Inside, the great room encourages indoor-outdoor living with dual-sided glass doors connecting an interior “avocado” courtyard to a terrace and pool with views over the Channel Islands.
The residence features solar panels and a landscaped green roof, showing the studio’s engagement to sustainability. Dedicated creative spaces, including drawing, painting, and ceramics studios, cater to the owners’ artistic practices. A terraced amphitheater and sculpture garden are seamlessly integrated into the land, creating an organic transition between built and natural environments.” Described by Donaldson as “a symbiotic relationship between house and nature,” Hill House Montecito dissolves the boundary between built form and the natural terrain, offering a bold vision of integrated environmental design.
Photography © Joe Fletcher