Spatial Clarity / Contextual Inteligence / Systems and Frameworks

Brookview

San Francisco

Brookview Residences by Tyen Masten Studio - a concrete hillside residence in Pacifica, California, designed as both lookout and refuge within the coastal landscape.
Program
Mulit Family Residential
Status
In Progress
Practice Area
Architecture and Design
Area
6 acres

CONTEXT

Brookview is a privately owned hillside site on the coastal edge of Pacifica, California. The ongoing commission explores the development potential of multiple steeply sloped lots, combining a conceptual masterplan for multiple lots with the schematic design of a prototypical house. The work considers how new hillside housing might be embedded in sensitive terrain while maximising orientation to ocean and ridgeline views.

View from the hilltop site overlooking Pacifica’s coastline and ocean horizon.
Situated on a steep hillside above the coast, the project negotiates long views to the sea while embedding itself in the terraced landscape.
Site plan showing the distribution of hillside dwellings along the existing contours.
High-angle view of the 1:500 model emphasising terraced form and topographical layering.
Aerial context of the Pacifica valley showing steep terrain and clustered site configuration.
Concrete, curvature, and light. Dwellings conceived as both lookout and refuge, embedded in the hillside yet open to the horizon.
Aerial view of the 1:8 scale house model showing the interplay between structure and landscape.Close-up of the 1:8 physical model highlighting curved concrete forms and pool terrace.

DESIGN INTENT

The scheme develops a modular system of cast-concrete components that can adapt in plan and section to the precise topography of each lot. This dual role, as formal logic and construction method, enables reusable moulds and efficient assembly while generating spatial variation through calibrated shifts in geometry and level.

Typological diagram mapping the adaptable module family for varied topographies.
Stacked programmatic modules are calibrated to each specific site condition. Living spaces expand toward the sea, while private rooms are anchored in the slope.
Exploded axonometric showing the modular concrete system and spatial stacking of volumes.
1:500 site model showing overall topography and distribution of proposed dwellings.
Ground floor plan diagram illustrating the stepped layout and interlocking programmatic modules.
A view through pine trees reveals the residence embedded in the terrain, with terraces and framed openings following the slope.

RESOLUTION AND OUTCOME

The resulting architecture is bold yet grounded, its curving volumes stepping with the hillside to form terraced platforms, roof decks, and sheltered outdoor rooms. Each residence carries measured weight in the landscape, combining structural permanence with a soft response to its coastal setting.

Interior of the lower living area with curved concrete walls, built-in seating, and warm filtered light entering from the landscape.
Curved walls and deep thresholds shape interiors into a sequence of luminous enclosures, where light and view are orchestrated with precision.
Transitional interior space with stair and openings to the landscape, highlighting subtle shifts of level and tone.
First floor plan showing private zones anchored into the slope and circulation aligned to the ridgeline.
Kitchen view showing raw concrete and timber textures contrasted with daylight from deep thresholds.
The building’s curved concrete volumes step with the hillside, opening toward the ridgeline and sea beyond.

Design-led architecture for cities, systems, and people.

Form. Clarity. Direction.

Contact

Socials

First Phase

We typically begin with a
First Phase diagnostic.
Enquire →
© Tyen Masten Studio 2025