Down-ridge from Hilltop Cave (see other RR STR) was an undeveloped saddle-ridge (below a higher neighboring decapitated Hilltop) with same hyper-panoramic view of San Gorgonio and the San Bernadino Mountain Range. Leading up to the saddle (from east) was a south-facing-meadow-bowl studded with mini-JTNP-like boulders and distant south / eastward views across the 15-acre site toward the Joshua Tree National Park Ranges. Below was an existing access road. Our design was conceptually and figuratively to ‘lift up the slope’ just above the saddle to allow a site-specific plan / form to ‘sit low in the saddle’ allowing high velocity airflow (winds) to continue unimpeded over the saddle. Where the hillside is ‘lifted up’ – it is supported by a continuous grade beam and hillside slope ‘not lifted / not excavated’ is reinforced / sprayed with shotcrete – eliminating costly retaining wall / footing / backfill. Additionally, only one great room sits ‘west of saddle’ such that both ‘Caves’ assume a quiet presence from approach. South-facing guest-terrace-suites radially encircle meadow-bowl with several ‘floating out and over’ a secure fenced carport where one ascends a crux stair between house / hillside to a Cave Entry (opposite end of saddle) up a slow ramp set into preserved-hillside-slope with bench / tiered seating / desert planters, all animated by natural light, all pulling you ever-upwards into a quintessentially Mojave Desert Mountain Panorama.