with an existing house sited on flat ground above a canyon in los angeles, the clients were interested in taking better advantage of their breathtaking views of the santa monica mountains, stone canyon reservoir, and downtown los angeles via the addition of a new master suite and family room. the site proved to be both dynamic and difficult as we looked at options that would have placed the addition: on the hillside; in an excavation in their patio; or in two stories replacing the existing master suite.