A vertical house carved into a cliff, designed with the future in mind
CLIFFHANGER HOUSE
Type
Residential
Location
Arlington, MA
Builder
Bespoke Companies
Landscape
G2LA
Photography
Peter Vanderwarker
CONTEXT
The narrow, steeply sloped lot with dramatic bedrock outcroppings challenged us to design a home equally ambitious and practical for our clients’ long-term needs. After carefully studying the site, we designed a home carved into the side of the cliff. Structurally and materially embedded in the landscape, Cliffhanger House is inspired by its extreme conditions and by the clients’ long-term accessibility concerns.
VISION
Nestled into the cliff, the house rises four levels connected by an elevator and a stair tower filled with natural light. At street level, the garage, with both an overhead and swing door, offers a zero-threshold entry. At the highest level, a kitchen, dining, and living room rise above the cliff, expanding onto panoramic views of the Boston skyline. The house’s flexible program, with rooms designed to serve multiple functions, maximizes ease of living. A spacious office off the main living area has an attached full bathroom, enabling its conversion into a comfortable guest bedroom. On the second floor, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a laundry room are organized into a methodical, livable plan.
Joining indoor and outdoor living, a wraparound deck connects the kitchen and living room through zero-threshold doors. Designed in collaboration with G2LA, the ascent from driveway to backyard is stitched together by a rocky path connecting all levels. Climbing the outdoor stairs, you can reach the backyard without passing through the house.
SUSTAINABILITY
Taking an intentional and budget-conscious approach to sustainable design, every performance upgrade was chosen to maximize the house’s energy performance relative to cost. High-performance windows and doors, rooftop solar panels, and an all-electric mechanical system reduce the house’s energy demands without diminishing its comfort.
