Case Study: Architecturally Designed Homes for Sloping Blocks
At Destination Living, we don’t flatten the landscape to suit the architecture—we shape the architecture to suit the land.
Sloping blocks often come with complexity: planning controls, access challenges, and natural level changes that can make standard designs unworkable. But with the right approach, these sites offer something exceptional—a chance to create homes that move with the land, unlocking views, light, and natural separation between spaces.
Our work on sloping blocks across Melbourne—such as Greenvale, East Ivanhoe, Mt Martha, Rosanna and Surrey Hills—demonstrates how thoughtful design can turn elevation into a design asset.
In Greenvale, the site’s natural gradient informed a stepped layout that flows across the block. A terraced landscape and gentle transitions between levels allow the home to follow the land, not fight it. Internally, the shift in elevation creates a clear separation between private and shared zones, all while maintaining visual cohesion and access to outlooks.
The East Ivanhoe home, known as Hartlands House, is one of our most distinguished sloping block projects—featured in Grand Designs Australia magazine and on Dream Homes Revealed. Designed for a family who had lived on the site for many years, the brief was to transform their 1980s single-storey dwelling into a multigenerational home that reflected the architectural character of East Ivanhoe while meeting the needs of modern family life.
Set on a prominent triangular block in the heart of East Ivanhoe Village, the site’s sloping terrain and heritage context posed both challenges and creative opportunities. Rather than flattening the block, our architectural solution followed the contours of the land, allowing the home to step naturally across levels. From the street, the design presents as low and composed—but as you move through the home, the architecture expands, revealing light-filled volumes and framed outlooks to the surrounding treetops and rooftops.
At its heart is a soaring 5.5-metre atrium, designed to house the family’s baby grand piano. This space anchors the home emotionally and visually, creating a dramatic formal lounge area that draws in natural light through custom-framed glazing. Connected to this space is an entertainer’s balcony, reinstated during the build following an on-site design meeting with our architects. The balcony capitalises on the site’s elevation, offering a seamless transition from indoor living to elevated village views.
Rosanna and Surrey Hills show a more immersive relationship with nature. In Rosanna, the building nestles into its hillside site, using the slope to create a private rear zone that feels embedded in the terrain. In Surrey Hills, where the block drops into a bushland setting, the architecture becomes quieter—allowing views and materials to lead. The slope provides not just form, but focus.
In Mt Martha, slope and setting combine. Designed for coastal resilience as well as elevation, this home steps down the site with clarity, giving prominence to key spaces and protecting others. Each level feels intentional, grounded, and attuned to its surroundings.
On every sloping site, structure and design must work together from the outset. Considerations such as drainage, retaining, stepped footings, and natural light orientation aren’t afterthoughts—they’re fundamental to the planning. With an in-house team spanning architecture, interiors, and construction, we address these variables early and consistently, ensuring the design is both beautiful and buildable.
Designing for a slope requires more than a clever floorplan. It calls for a clear understanding of the land and a vision for how to move through it—creating homes that feel settled, connected, and uniquely suited to their site.
If you’re building on a sloping block, our team is here to guide you through the process. Whether you’re still exploring ideas or already underway, we’re here to support you in getting the best from your site.
