Architects: Alterstudio Architecture
Area: 3,494 ft²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Casey Dunn
Main Contractor: Wilde Custom Homes
Structural Engineer: MJ Structures
Landscape Architect: Shademaker Studio
Design Team: Kevin Alter (Partner), Ernesto Cragnolino (Partner), Tim Whitehill (Partner), Will Powell (Project Architect), Michael Woodland (Project Architect), Shelley McDavid (Project Architect), Haifa Hammami (Interiors)
City: Austin
Country: United States
Westbrook Residence, designed by Alterstudio Architecture in Austin, Texas, balances modern architecture with its natural surroundings while preserving the historic character of the neighborhood. This 3,494-square-foot home, surrounded by expansive gardens, promotes outdoor living through interconnected spaces that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor environments. Defined masonry volumes create a contrast between private enclosed areas and light-filled public zones, setting a sustainable model for future suburban developments that prioritize both community and nature. In a neighborhood where many homes maximize their floor area ratio (FAR) through expansions, Westbrook Residence stands out for its restrained scale and thoughtful design, respecting the area’s post-war suburban context while addressing evolving demographics and needs.
Positioned within a network of surrounding gardens, the house fosters a connection between the indoors and the natural environment. The residence embraces a low building-to-garden ratio, allowing the inhabitants to feel immersed in nature throughout the different seasons. This interplay between architecture and landscape is central to the design, ensuring that outdoor spaces remain as significant as the indoor living areas.
The layout features four masonry volumes that form the core of the house, centering around a main living area that opens directly onto the gardens. Public spaces are situated between these masonry volumes, with floor-to-ceiling, site-glazed windows creating a visual and physical connection to the outdoors. The limestone bricks and steel-framed openings used in these volumes lend a sense of enclosure and intimacy to the private spaces, while the continuous ceiling and glazed walls define the home’s flowing public zones.
An additional steel-clad volume sits above the living spaces, incorporating light chimneys that introduce natural light into the interior. These elements create a dynamic play of light and views within the house, transforming the spatial experience. The design contrasts the enclosed, intimate masonry rooms with the open, fluid public spaces, allowing the inhabitants to shift between environments based on mood and need.
This single-story layout also supports aging in place, providing a home that allows its residents to remain connected to both nature and the surrounding community as they grow older. Westbrook Residence sets a sustainable precedent for suburban architecture in Austin, where buildings are designed to harmonize with their environment and foster a deeper connection with nature and neighbors alike. This thoughtful approach offers a vision for future development that prioritizes open spaces, community interaction, and sustainable living.
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Project Location
Address: Austin, Texas, USA
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
