Character Runs Deep In This Modern Austin Escape

Brimming with architectural charm, Austin’s Clarksville neighborhood draws design lovers who celebrate its historical aesthetic while embracing a modern evolution. When a pair of empty nesters purchased property there, they turned to architects Juan Miró, Miguel Rivera and Ken Jones—who had designed their former West Austin estate—to translate their indoor-outdoor ethos to a more urban context. The result masterfully optimizes every square inch while paying homage to the neighborhood’s storied character but with a modern twist.

Faced in weathering steel, the home includes a low-slung dwelling and a two-story accessory structure constructed by builder Blake Smith. The main house is composed of two connected pavilions that intersect at opposite angles and celebrate the lot’s steep grade. “We thought that it was an interesting way to play with the roof,” Miró recounts. At the front, one side of the roofline tilts upward to welcome visitors and form a deep porch, a nod to the surrounding homes. “The idea of the porch is interpreted,” Miró says. “It’s an example that in historic neighborhoods, you can create something respectful and connected without replicating a historical style.”

In another effort to regard the site, the team gave deference to a resident live oak. The front of the house stretches upward to capture views of the long-standing tree, one of many on the property that were honored and augmented in collaboration with landscape architect Shaney Clemmons. Throughout the interiors, that idea is taken further through carefully choreographed openings—tall, narrow windows that align perfectly with trunks; wide spans of steel glazing that pull the eye toward layered courtyards; and apertures tucked into unexpected corners, bringing green backdrops to even the most private areas. “This is the Japanese concept called ‘borrowed scenery,’ ” Miró explains. “It may not be yours, but you can feel like it is, because you’re framing something that extends the sense of space.”

Inside, meanwhile, cohesion and warmth offset the modern exterior geometry and the abundance of glass, steel and concrete. Ceilings are wrapped in gently curved half-round pine boards, which are elevated through repetition and craftsmanship, and stained to match the white oak cabinetry. This is most evident in the great room, where a feature ceiling introduces a soft curve that unifies the kitchen and living room, reflects the crossing rooflines and enhances the acoustics. “The interiors of the home are an extension of the architectural ideas,” Miró says. Furnishings follow suit: A floating fireplace allows the glass-walled living room unobstructed views of the beautifully landscaped backyard and pool, while the built-in sofa and kitchen cabinetry were designed to optimize functionality. “Because they wanted to downsize, everything had to fit together precisely, almost like a yacht,” Jones notes. “No storage was wasted.”

The urban locale of the residence also called for additional privacy measures. One solution was the introduction of external side walls that extend beneath select overhangs, simultaneously strengthening the connection to the outdoors while creating a sense of intimacy, particularly in the dining room and primary suite. “It provides a screen and allows these spaces to flow from the inside out,” Miró describes.

As the house weaves from front to back, the primary suite opens onto a private courtyard—a fenced-in portion of the front yard intentionally designed to remain unseen by passersby. “For us, it’s important to think about these kinds of innovations,” Miró explains. “It’s not only good from the point of view of privacy, but it also adds another surprise to the house.”

These clever uses of the site’s limited footprint create an unfolding sequence of distinct outdoor areas: the front yard, back yard with pool, and side yard, each shaped by roof geometry, grade changes and tree canopies. “This is a good example of how extra density can be achieved without losing wonderful outdoor spaces, especially those typically associated with larger lots on the outskirts of the city,” Miró says.

For the owners, their new home delivers a rich daily experience in a connected environment: morning light filtering through branches, multiple gardens unfolding along interior paths and an atmosphere of calm shaped by intentionality.