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This double-story addition to a detached Victorian house in Northcote creates a bridge between the existing building and its deep rear garden.

Thanks to its natural color, concrete also serves as a wonderful “blank canvas” for landscaping.

After an unexpected disaster, a homeowner takes a rebuild into his own hands (literally).

A southern view shows the exposed concrete foundation and entrance bridge. “As you approach and enter, the front door is at the top,” explains Sokol. “It’s a three-story house with the entrance on the third story, and the master bedroom in the basement—it’s sort of upside down.”

Green room: Below grade ground floor windows look out onto landscaped rocks and vegetation

Clear Rock Lookout seen at dusk.

A low-impact design approach informed the compact, elevated footprint and grated metal walkways. Rainwater is channeled from the roof (covered in local stone) into a rain barrel.

A grated metal footbridge with hog-wire, guard-rail panels connects the top of the mesa from the west side to the observation deck. Stairs lead to the glazed studio and hunting blind below.

A glimpse of the breezeway beneath the grated metal footbridge. The doors and accents were constructed from ipe wood.

A ramp leads to the entrance door.