At its lowest point the site of this house is about seven metres below the road level. The architect took this as a challenge, designing the house as if it was a giant L-shaped retaining wall. The main living spaces are on the ground floor, in a transparent glass and steel structure. The upper floor - exposed to public view - is solid and timber-clad, with two separate bedroom 'boxes': one for the parents, the other for the children. A timber screen allows privacy along the south facade, while a moveable screen in perforated aluminium shields against the western sun.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture