The Hammer House takes advantage of its small, sloping site by directing views away from neighboring houses and toward the larger urban landscape. The building has a small footprint, but its open plan creates a sense of spaciousness and openness to the outdoors. A moment frame—a structural strategy that allows the building to flex in response to seismic activity—was designed for the west wall, freeing the interior from the need for load-bearing walls, which in turn maintains continuous access to exterior views from within the space.