Trout Architects

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Hill House

Due to its dramatic steep slope and trapezoidal shape, this lot was deemed undesirable. Located in the heart of Boise’s NE neighborhood with beautiful views of Table Rock and the Owyhee Mountains, challenge is moved aside and a creative endeavor is born for two Boise design professionals. Eschewing the leveling or strip-mining attitude of anti-environmental approaches, unfortunately typical in the area, this design philosophy is to use the site to define the house. Inspired by the high desert rock formations of Owyhee Desert’s Leslie’s Gulch, the house will layer or stratify to a heightened plateau above the existing tree line.

The house is layered along a single exterior stair extending from the lower driveway to the upper street, a rise of almost 45 feet. Along the stair are two separate structures notched deep into the rocky north end. Entry is from the lower southeast corner to the first structure containing the garage. Above the garage is the second layer containing an artist studio that doubles as guest quarters. Slightly above the studio level, layer three, is the main patio with leads to the children’s bedroom and game room. The stair continues to the formal entry to the public level with the living, dining, and kitchen areas. The fifth layer contains the master bedroom suite and is accessed by an internal stair. With most south facing layers accompanied by a patio or deck, the owners can occupy the transcending tiers from the outside in.

The Trout/Stevens hill house was featured in Cliffhanger/Hillside Homes by Ashley Rooney, the Idaho Stateman, myHouse magazine, The Daily Journal of Commerce, Idaho Business Review, and the Boise Journal. It also received an AIA Award of Citation.

Design Team: Steve Trout, Sally Stevens

  • FIRM PROFILE
    • Firm History
    • Staff
      • Steve Trout – AIA, LEED AP, Principal
      • Shaun Weston – Architect
      • Neil King – Drafting Technician
      • Carrie Durant – Office Manager
    • Publications
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  • Philosophy
    • Architecture + Design
    • Environmentally Conscious
    • Historic Preservation
  • Projects
    • Residential
      • Multi-family
        • Boise State University Apartments
        • Davis Park Apartments
        • River’s Bend Condominiums
        • Gateway Crossing Apartments
        • Grand Avenue Homes
      • Single Family
        • Hill House
        • Foothills House
        • Hill Road Houses
        • Klein House
        • McCall Housing
        • Troutner House Addition
        • Warm Springs Residence
        • Veltex Condominium
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      • Harriman State Park
      • Brookside Village
      • Fort Boise VA Study
      • University of Idaho Physics Building
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        • Art Experience Gallery
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        • Boise State University TECenter
        • Frontier Point Lodge
      • Library
        • Caldwell Public Library Children’s Area Remodel
        • Collister Neighborhood Library
        • Hillcrest Neighborhood Library
        • Boise Main Library – Conceptual Study
        • Boise Main Library – Support Services Remodel
        • Boise Main Library – 3rd Floor Remodel
      • Municipal
        • Boise City Hall – Second Floor
        • Boise Veterans Administration Medical Center Campus
        • Blaine County Courthouse Annex
      • Museums
        • Boise Art Museum Addition
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      • Adaptive Reuse
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        • Churchill School Renovation
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        • Schick-Ostolasa Farmstead
        • Harriman State Park – Harriman Cottage
        • O’Farrell Cabin Restoration
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        • Harriman State Park – Bunkhouse
      • Renovation
        • Baxter Apartment Building Renovation
        • Boise VA Building #4 Surgeon’s Quarters
        • R.Z. Johnson Building
        • Hopffgarten Restoration & Renovation
        • Blaine County Courthouse Roof
        • Blaine County Historic Courthouse Stair
        • Harriman State Park – Dude Barns
        • Troutner House Addition
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        • First Bank of Vale
        • Central High School
        • Fort Boise VA Study
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        • Syringa Networks – Idaho Falls
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        • Lucy’s Coffee and Espresso
        • Moxie Java – Vista
  • On The Boards
    • Brewery
    • Historic
      • Gene Harris Bandshell Restoration
      • Boise Basin Mercantile
      • Spalding Hall Renovations
      • Boise Reserve Street Armory
      • Teton County Historic Courthouse
      • Lincoln Creek Day School
    • Public
      • Chaussee Swan
      • Boise River Sculpture Repair & Renovation
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