Perched high in the dramatic hills of La Cañada, Hillcrest Avenue is Ecocentrix’s most expansive and technically advanced residential design to date.

This project transforms a steep, previously inaccessible slope into an immersive, multilevel sanctuary of luxury, resilience, and design-forward vision.

A Bold Challenge Met with Creativity

At first glance, the site presented nearly insurmountable hurdles—limited access, sharp changes in elevation, and sensitive heritage oaks overlooking steep canyon terrain. Preserving the natural landscape while achieving an elevated lifestyle vision meant rethinking typical boundaries. Through close collaboration with our client and multiple rounds of design iteration, we reimagined circulation, structural transitions, and view corridors to create a landscape that feels cohesive with the topography, yet entirely visionary.

The Social Center: Elevated Poolscape & Outdoor Kitchen

The upper terrace is the heart of the design—an elevated poolscape built around sculptural fire features, lush drought-tolerant planting, and a refined outdoor kitchen that echoes the architectural tone of the main residence. Meant for hosting, family gatherings, or tranquil sunset moments, this space blends elegance, function, and hillside viewscapes into one harmonious setting.

Multilevel Experience: Spas, Lookouts & Cantilevers

Descending the slope reveals a series of interconnected terraces and standout features:

• – A floating spa poised above the canyon, reached via a graceful catwalk;
• – Infinity-edge pools that blur the boundary between water and skyline;
• – Cantilevered lounge decks offering panoramic views and serene retreat zones.

Every transition becomes a discovery, as built forms gently dissolve into native hillside and open air.

Thoughtful Stewardship & Fire-Conscious Integrity

Resilience informed design at every level. Fire-safe planting palettes blend beauty with erosion control, while new retaining systems support ecological stabilization without dominating the landscape. Heritage oaks remain a focal point, carefully preserved beneath terraced terraces and naturalistic plant structures.

Secluded Retreats & Sculptural Details

Several intimate and expressive elements enrich the hillside journey:

• – A Pilates studio tucked into a greener nook, paired with a seedling room to support wellness and plant propagation;
• – A hidden outdoor cinema with immersive sound enveloping viewers in canyon ambiance;
• – Geodesic pods at the foot of the site—functioning both as sculptural icons and edible gardens primed for community engagement.

This is more than a landscape—it’s a redefinition of hillside luxury that merges ecological sensibility with bold design. Curious to see the full story behind Hillcrest Avenue?
Take a look at all of the completed and concept property photos.