Hillcrest I House by McClean Design, A Light-Filled Hillside Retreat in Beverly Hills
Architecture Design of Hillcrest I House
Description About The Project
Hillcrest I House by McClean Design is a contemporary hillside residence in Trousdale, Beverly Hills, where a central water garden and glass bridge transform a deep basement into luminous, experiential living spaces beneath panoramic view-oriented rooms.
The Project “Hillcrest I House” Information:
- Project Name: Hillcrest I House
- Location: Beverly Hills, California, United States
- Project Year: 2016
- Area: 10,000 SF
- Designed by: McClean Design
- Interior Design: Joseph Elihu
Architecture Shaped by Light and Topography
Set within the iconic Trousdale neighborhood of Beverly Hills—an enclave celebrated for its single-story modern homes and cinematic views—Hillcrest I House reinterprets hillside living through light, water, and spatial drama. Designed by McClean Design, the residence responds directly to its context: extraordinary views above grade and strict limitations on buildable mass.
“The challenge was clear,” the architects explain. “We needed to accommodate a substantial entertaining program below grade while ensuring those spaces felt alive, bright, and desirable—not secondary.”
Rather than treating the basement as a hidden layer, the design elevates it into one of the home’s most memorable experiences.
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The Water Garden as Architectural Heart
At the core of Hillcrest I House lies a bold reinterpretation of the traditional light well. McClean Design expanded this functional element into a fully realized water garden positioned at the center of the home. This landscaped void introduces daylight deep into the basement, refracting sunlight across walls and ceilings through the movement of water.
“By transforming the light well into a water garden, we created an emotional center for the house,” notes the design team. “It’s not just about illumination—it’s about atmosphere.”
The water garden becomes a visual and sensory anchor, animating interior spaces throughout the day and establishing a continuous dialogue between levels.
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A Glass Bridge Entry Experience
Arrival at Hillcrest I House is defined by a striking moment of transition. Visitors cross a glass bridge suspended above the water garden, leaving the exterior landscape behind and entering the home through a choreographed spatial sequence. This bridge alters perception—heightening awareness of light, depth, and movement.
“We wanted entry to feel like an event,” McClean Design explains. “Crossing the bridge shifts your mindset and prepares you for the layered experience inside.”
Below, the water garden continues to reflect light upward, ensuring the basement spaces feel connected to the sky rather than buried within the hillside.
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Entertaining Below, Views Above
The program is organized vertically to maximize both function and experience. Above grade, the main living areas are oriented toward sweeping views—spaces designed for daily living and visual connection to the city beyond. Below, the basement unfolds as an immersive entertainment zone, enriched by natural light, water reflections, and a more introspective spatial quality.
“The contrast between the outward-looking rooms above and the inward-focused spaces below was intentional,” the architects note. “Each level offers a different way of inhabiting the house.”
This duality allows the home to support both large gatherings and intimate moments with equal sophistication.
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Material Warmth and Timeless Comfort
Throughout Hillcrest I House, a warm palette of natural materials softens the home’s modern geometry. Stone, wood, and refined finishes work in harmony with glass and steel, creating an environment that feels both luxurious and inviting.
“Light alone isn’t enough,” McClean Design reflects. “Materiality is what makes the spaces feel livable, comfortable, and timeless.”
The result is a residence where innovation and comfort coexist—an architecture that feels as good to inhabit as it is striking to experience.
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A Hillside Home Redefined
Hillcrest I House stands as a testament to McClean Design’s mastery of complex hillside conditions. By transforming constraints into opportunities, the architects created a home where light penetrates deep, water becomes architecture, and every level offers a distinct yet connected living experience.
In Trousdale’s landscape of iconic modernism, Hillcrest I House quietly distinguishes itself—not through excess, but through clarity, ingenuity, and a profound understanding of how architecture can shape daily life.
Photo credit: Jim Bartsch | Source: McClean Design
For more information about this project; please contact the Architecture firm :
– Add: 391 S. Glassell St. Orange, CA 92866
– Tel: 714.505.0556
– Email: info@mccleandesign.com
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