Our brief was to design a new hilltop estate on a hilly 100 acre site in the California foothills south of San Jose. The top of the most prominant hill was crowned with a ring of mature oak trees leaving an open area on top. By placing the house behind the trees we achieved a hilltop house with filtered views of the countryside below without the house being highly visable from below. One signature oak tree, located near te top of the hill became a focus for our design and the imputus to divide the house into two pavillions connected by a garden hallway.