The design of the Johnson residence, located across from Memorial Park, is dictated by a fault line running directly underneath the site. This existing geological condition requires that the house not straddle the fault line, and generates a design solution that cantilevers the upper levels of the home to maximize the site’s buildable area.

The house's columns are one of its most dramatic features. As they lift up the V-shaped roof, their slant reflects the angle of the fault line, echoing the forces acting underground. The foundation is a raised steel frame that is engineered to be adjustable, and compensate for the shifting of the ground plates. The western metal side of the house contains the service core -- circulation and bathrooms -- with minimal glazing to reduce heat gain.

Inside the residence, the functions are clearly stratified by levels. The first floor contains the common areas including the kitchen, dining area and living room. The living room opens to a large deck and pool, creating an easy sense of transition between the indoor living space and the outdoors. The second floor features the master suite with an open balcony overlooking the floor below. A glass curtain wall continues from the first floor to the second and provides views of the park across the street. The third floor contains a study, utility room, guest room and media room. The study opens onto a bridge-like upper balcony, which provides a high vantage point of the surrounding park and neighborhood.