Woodline ADUs
Client
SDRE Homebuyers, LLC.
Type
Residential
Year
2025
Size
1/3 Acre
Floors
2
Apartments
12
Location
San Diego, California
Services
Site Design | Landscape Design
Status
Complete
The design story here is driven by material continuity. Horizontal wood fencing runs through the site in dialogue with the buildings' wood entry paneling, while a continuous retaining wall capped with fencing creates a rhythmic, photogenic procession through the project. Terraced grade changes are handled with understated retaining walls that keep the focus on the warm material palette throughout.
Project Overview
Project Name
Woodline ADUs
Client Background
A private residential developer sought to transform a sloped hillside property into a refined multi-unit residential development that emphasizes privacy, thoughtful site integration, and contemporary coastal architecture. The vision focused on creating a cohesive residential experience through warm materiality, layered landscape design, and strong connections between architecture and outdoor living.
Objective
Create a cohesive luxury residential development that maximizes canyon views, enhances indoor-outdoor living, and establishes a strong architectural identity through material continuity and carefully integrated landscape elements.
Scope
Design the site & landscape for a multi-unit luxury residential development featuring private outdoor spaces and integrated landscape design responsive to the site’s topography.
Incorporate terraced grading solutions, retaining walls, fencing, and layered landscape elements that create seamless transitions throughout the hillside property.
Develop a unified architectural and landscape palette emphasizing warm wood detailing, clean modern forms, and immersive spatial experiences.
Key Details
Location: San Diego, California
Total Built-Up Area: 1/3 Acre
Number of Floors: 2
Amenities: Private yards, Canyon Views
Design Approach and Execution
Concept and Vision
Design Philosophy: The project was driven by the idea of material continuity and restrained modernism, using repeated textures, horizontal lines, and layered landscape elements to create a cohesive residential atmosphere that feels warm, immersive, and timeless.
Key Features: Horizontal wood fencing, integrated retaining walls with continuous fencing caps, terraced site transitions, and private outdoor spaces that extend the living experience beyond the architecture itself.
Inspirations: Contemporary California coastal architecture, Japanese-influenced spatial sequencing, and modern hillside developments that emphasize simplicity, warmth, and strong indoor-outdoor relationships.
Execution
Phase 1: Urban Analysis and Site Planning
Carefully studied the sloped corner lot to understand grading transitions, view corridors, privacy opportunities, and pedestrian circulation throughout the site.
Developed a terraced grading approach that minimized visual disruption while allowing the architecture and landscape elements to integrate naturally into the hillside.
Phase 2: Landscape Design and Space Planning
Horizontal wood fencing extends throughout the development in dialogue with the buildings’ wood entry paneling, creating a rhythmic procession and unified visual language across the property.
Retaining walls were intentionally understated and capped with fencing elements to create layered transitions while maintaining focus on the project’s warm material palette.
Carefully integrated planting palettes and warm material tones to soften the terraced landscape and reinforce the project’s nestled atmosphere.
Retaining walls were intentionally understated and capped with fencing elements to create layered spatial experiences and a visually cohesive procession through the site.
Phase 3: Collaboration and Construction
Worked closely with contractors and fabricators to ensure precise alignment of fencing, retaining walls, and detailing throughout the site.
Results and Acknowledgments
Outcome
Elevated Residential Living:
The project delivers a refined collection of luxury residential units that balance privacy, community, and connection to the surrounding coastal landscape.
Strong Material Identity:
The consistent use of wood, concrete, and layered landscape elements creates a memorable architectural identity that unifies the entire development.
Integrated Site Design:
Thoughtful grading, terraced transitions, and carefully coordinated architectural detailing create a seamless relationship between the built environment and the natural hillside terrain.
Credits and Collaboration
Site & Landscape
Lead Designer: Peyton Hawley
Drafter: Myrrth Tariga
Building Designer: Pro - Cal Design & Engineering
General Contractor: Vertical MVMT, LLC.
Project shots
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