The site, a hillside lot located in a 1970’s-era planned residential development in La Jolla, offers a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. The existing home is accessed from the east via an alley. The lot is level except for the Western-most portion which falls steeply to the street below. There is currently no vehicular or pedestrian direct access from the street. As part of the PRD’s covenant building height is restricted to one story above the alley so the garage, two en-suite bedrooms, and a living area are carved out of the earth below. For better natural light and ventilation the bedrooms and bathrooms wrap around a two-story lightwell. The master suite, an office, library, and kitchen/dining/living areas are located upstairs. There are now two entries, one from the street and one from the alley. The existing crumbling shrub-covered bluff will be replaced with a faceted CIP retaining wall to stabilize the hill; the wall is perforated to allow for a planting overlay.