Lost Gardens of Heligan slope and can be seen at – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Gardens_of_Heligan
Whereas many slopes are terraced, especially to grow crops like rice, or provide a flat area for building, it is also possible to embrace a slope and have a house on a concrete raft raised at the front on stilts and being at ground level at the sides and back. The biggest problem is drainage once services like sewers are provided and, as you will see if you click on the link, this can be via natural drainage to open waterways.
It is now understood that trees, etc. are essential to soak up heavy rains and delay the descent of water quickly, so that rivers do not burst their banks and cause flooding. The turning of front gardens in suburban streets into block paved parking for cars is now being discouraged and alternatives found, e.g. hard parking areas with holed matting for grass to grow through and a surround, or corners, properly planted. Previously there would just have been a few pots or containers on bricks or tarmac. It is even possible to grow plants beneath where the cars go especially if they spend 6 daylight days a week away while residents work in town. The old answer was strips of paving or concrete with earth and gravel between but this is not thought fashionable. The idea may come back, however, as many now plant desert landscapes with a few desert plants poking through gravel on top of a plastic membrane to inhibit weeds. People do not wish to park on the gravel but prefer their tyres on a hard surface. Where these sites also slope, obviously the top end will be driest and so planting may be very sparse and be augmented with statuary, a self contained water feature, garden gnomes, etc. (lol)
Good luck
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