Situated at the end of a private lane, this new house has commanding hilltop views of its 31 acre parcel of land. The land was once part of an original William Penn Land grant. Located less than eight miles from downtown Philadelphia; the property is an oasis of nature, surrounded on 3 sides by conservancy lands and a stream. The house was designed to respond to the unique characteristics of the site and the long heritage of the Great Estates that have been constructed in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Wissahickon Schist walls, graduated slate roofing, hand-made English tile details along the rakes and window heads along with limestone window surrounds and dramatic chimney forms provide a complex palette of textures and materials that complement the carefully composed massing of the house. The steeply sloping site facilitated the design of an expansive terrace along the rear of the house and dramatic views across the property. The space under the rear terrace houses an indoor pool with a series of large arched doorways that open into the landscape. Mature trees were preserved around the new building and their overhanging limbs provide shade, scale and a sense of history.