Houzz Tour: Minimal and Soothing in Austin
The house has a single-story
design in the front, but there are two stories in the back as it spreads
out across a steep incline.
"The building is modest, but it unfolds like a geode when you go inside," says Alter. He — along with partner Ernesto Cragnolino and architects Tim Whitehill, Russel Krepart, Matt Slusarek and Jessica Connolly — designed the house to avoid blocking the views or light of any other houses in the development.
by Alterstudio
"The building is modest, but it unfolds like a geode when you go inside," says Alter. He — along with partner Ernesto Cragnolino and architects Tim Whitehill, Russel Krepart, Matt Slusarek and Jessica Connolly — designed the house to avoid blocking the views or light of any other houses in the development.
"Each material was used in its
own nature," says Alter. While brick was used to enclose certain parts
of the home, it was also used decoratively. Here, brickwork on the front
entryway plays with light and shadows.
by Alterstudio
The steel and glass lining the
front entry hall contrasts with the exterior brickwork. The use of steel
throughout the home adds lightness and allowed for expansive windows.
by Alterstudio
Ipe wood accents on the garage door and a trellis in front of the house bring warmth to the home's rather stark brick exterior.
by Alterstudio
A central courtyard, just visible through the glass entryway, allows the home to center in on nature.
"The house was built as an enclave," says Alter. It's its own special world, he says, so that once you leave the neighborhood and walk across the pool of water into this home, "everything outside is left behind you."
by Alterstudio
"The house was built as an enclave," says Alter. It's its own special world, he says, so that once you leave the neighborhood and walk across the pool of water into this home, "everything outside is left behind you."
The clients had planned to put
koi in the pond, but they soon learned of a red-tailed hawk that had
made its home in a nearby tree and had already swiped some koi from a
neighbor's pond. The plan for koi was abandoned, but the soothing effect
of the water remains.
by Alterstudio
The use of corner glazing
throughout the home allows for rooms to extend out beyond their allotted
space and draws the eye out to the home's beautiful views. While the
home's design is clean, there's still a fine level of detail throughout
the house. "The detail lets the more interesting qualities of the grain
of stone or the pattern of light and shadow play out without
distraction," says Alter.
by Alterstudio
The flow of the house feels
natural and effortless. After entering through the front door, the house
leads you from room to room on a path surrounding the courtyard. Each
room has a different view of the courtyard, forest, and the rest of the
house.
by Alterstudio
Part of the reason the clients
purchased this home was because of its fantastic view. From this vantage
point, it's clear that the house drops off very steeply in the back.
The land drops straight down to the river, and you can see across the
treetops to the cliff face on the other side.
by Alterstudio
The kitchen was designed with
no upper cabinets to keep the space open and clean, but lower cabinets
offer plenty of storage. The kitchen island is made with Caesarstone's Blizzard, and the stone floors are Israeli Blue.
The clients had a moderate budget and wanted to get a crisp and clean look while still using off-the-shelf materials. "Working with commonplace materials can make it more difficult to create a certain result," says Alter. "You have to make sure to articulate the materials in a certain way."
by Alterstudio The clients had a moderate budget and wanted to get a crisp and clean look while still using off-the-shelf materials. "Working with commonplace materials can make it more difficult to create a certain result," says Alter. "You have to make sure to articulate the materials in a certain way."
While the style of the home is certainly inspired by mid-century modern architecture, it also drew inspiration from the Case Study Houses
on the West Coast. In many ways, these homes were less about the
buildings themselves, and more about the way they inspired people to
live. Alter and Cragnolino wanted to create a home that simply made the
clients' lives better.
by Alterstudio
The house is built so that when
inside, none of the other houses in the development are visible. The
views out from the living room are gorgeous — but a wall to the right
blocks the house on the adjacent lot. "When I build a home, I look for
what is best about a place and try to maximize those qualities," says
Alter.
by Alterstudio
Set above the property's steep
embankment, the master bedroom almost feels like a tree house. The
corner glazing provides a clear view, and allows the room to be
enveloped by trees. "I want to be modest enough to know that the
building itself — the object — isn't the end result," says Alter. "It's
about creating a compelling environment."
by Alterstudio
