Comfortable and contemporary, the Tree House offers generous living space, four bedrooms, and a guest suite to its family of four while encouraging a constant appreciation of nature.
The home’s two curving rooflines—one concave, and the other convex—create a dialogue with the steeply sloping site, unfolding the house to stunning views of its natural surroundings. The convex roof shared by the living, dining, and kitchen spaces opens the interior of the house to a canopy of oak trees and a small pool. Generous windows in every room illuminate the interior space and offer views of the surrounding branches, making rooms feel as if they are floating among the treetops.
At the street front, the concave roof forms a low, unassuming façade that respects the scale of the neighborhood and provides privacy for bedrooms and studies. The roof starts low, allowing the residence to resemble a one-level building when viewed from the street, and rises up to capture the views of the oak trees and the cityscape. The meandering path from the street to the house’s front door is curved, while the lush landscape between the path and the garage offers a view of beautiful greenery instead of looking onto the street.
The entry was conceived as a wedge that connects and opens to the direct view of the trees beyond, while separating the public and private areas of the house. The owners entering the house through the garage arrive to the same entry point as their visitors. The native Texas limestone on the outside of the house wraps into the entry’s right wall, creating a continuity from exterior to interior. Inside, varied lighting illuminates the space: the downlights of the left wall provide an opportunity for art display, while the opposite stone wall is up-lit from the Brazilian cherry wood floor. These different light sources, in addition to the three skylights, infuse the space with texture, warmth and color.
Located on the house’s second story, the living room lies at the level of the tree branches, allowing residents to enjoy the foliage of the property’s old, native oaks. Floor-to-ceiling windows and clerestory elements flood the space with natural light, offering panoramic views of downtown Austin peeking through intertwining branches.
The open kitchen offers an ideal area for entertaining and for informal family gatherings. The 11’6” ceilings add light and airiness while the height of the kitchen cabinetry matches that of the stone wall, bringing the scale down and providing a horizontal continuity. An adjoining lower-ceilinged breakfast room provides a cozy space for casual meals and for children to do their homework. The cabinetry, which continues from the kitchen into the breakfast area, serves as additional storage for linens, and platters along with crafts, mail and home office items. The picture window offers views of the street and front landscape and also creates a clear connection between the front and back side of the house.
The master bedroom, located on the same floor as the living room, features floor-to-ceiling glass and a corner window that flood the space with natural light and open the room to panoramic views of the surrounding branches. The master bathroom’s double-height ceiling, along with its clerestory windows above, creates a space that is airy and bright, filled with natural light. The shower’s corner window maintains privacy while still offering extensive views of the backyard and landscape.
The third floor guest bath features an undermount tub set into a dramatic wood alcove. A large sliding door provides access to a private rooftop balcony with views to downtown Austin.
The ground floor, which houses the children’s bedrooms and a generous playroom, provides the family with a more secluded space for recreation and relaxation. A day bed nestled below the stairs and comfortable sofas reflect the informal nature of the space. Meanwhile, a side door provides quick access to a covered patio and nearby bocce court.
At the same level as the living area, the beach-edge pool provides an attractive water feature that can be constantly seen from the living room, reflecting the shadows of the trees. Above the pool, a wood overhang contains a projection screen that enables residents to watch movies or sport events while soaking in the hot tub. Conveniently located next to the kitchen, the bar provides an outdoor entertaining area that, with Austin’s weather, residents can enjoy year-round. Residents can further experience the breathtaking landscape by sitting outside on the generous ipe-floored deck that extends from the living room, providing seating directly under the tree canopy.
Design Team:
Design Partners:
Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP
Miguel Rivera, AIA LEED AP
Project Architect/Manager:
Edward Richardson
Team Members:
Carina Coel
Matthew Helveston
Height:
3 floors
33'-2"
Area:
Conditioned Space: 5,256 sf
Garage: 733 sf
Outdoor/Unconditioned Space: 1,200 sf
Total: 7,189 sf
Site:
1.1 acres (45,942 sf); 2 lots combined
Consultants:
Geotechnical Engineer: Terracon, Austin, TX
Structural Engineer: Structures Inc, Austin, TX
MEP Engineer: AA Gonzalez Engineering Inc., San Antonio, TX
Lighting: Arc Light Design, New York, NY
Interior Designer: Jerri Kunz, Austin, TX
Landscape: Sitio Design, Austin, TX
General Contractor: Tripathi Builders, Austin, TX
Interior Designer: Tripathi Builders, Austin, TX
Photographers: Paul Finkel | Piston Design
↧