Situated on a slope above the ocean, this project involved a residential building that met neither its functional nor aesthetic obligations. Its transformation reconnects the house to the landscape, increasing transitional spaces, embracing outdoor areas, linking to the street and opening up views of the ocean. Environmentally sustainable design principles guided all program resolutions, ensuring thermal continuity, increased natural light and higher indoor air quality. Natural, recycled and low embodied energy materials were used throughout. The finished house was named Kenzai, Japanese for healthy and strong, to reflect its healthy living environment and robust materiality.