Frequent houseguests are a given when you live in a city like Austin, according to the owners of a modernist three-level abode located just blocks away from downtown.
Today, their lucky visitors stay in a private suite on the lower level with its own private courtyard, defined by a concrete retaining wall leftover from the original home on the lot.
“The clients wanted to carry a piece of the old home forward,” says builder Royce Flournoy. But that’s just about the only thing the current plaster-clad house has in common with the home it replaced. Despite the home’s busy corner location, the bright and airy interior feels private and serene with spaces that flow into one another, plus a sculptural wood-and-steel staircase that connects all levels.
“We tried to limit the circulation in this house to that stair core, and we’ve celebrated it with the design,” explains architect Patrick Ousey, who collaborated with architect Pam Chandler. “It’s very open and sculptural.”
Spacious covered terraces extend the living area to a massive rooftop desk, offering jaw-dropping city views and the perfect place to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks with friends.
“We gave the architects a three-page list of our needs and wants for the home, and they fulfilled every single item,” one of the homeowners says.