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.