Terrace Mountain House by Dick Clark Architecture
Dick Clark Architecture have designed the Terrace Mountain House in Austin, Texas.
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Project description by Dick Clark Architecture:
Located on a steep site in Westlake Hills, oriented towards a spectacular view of downtown Austin, this 4,700 square foot house merges traditional Texas forms and materials with unique contemporary details. The plan is simply arranged around an open living, dining, and kitchen space that accomodates the clients’ desire to entertain while providing a buffer between public and private use.
The house is set well off of the street, providing privacy and intrigue. A long curving drive terminates in a motor court, revealing the massing and material palette of Texas Lueders limestone, copper and stucco. An intimate entry court features a unique steel gate, and a water feature below a low window into the living room that provides a peek in and out.. The large copper clad front door is mostly solid, but a narrow vertical slit window frames the Texas State Capitol, revealing a bit of the view to come.
One enters into the large public space, where the exposed fir members and ceiling float above clerestories below. The Lueders limestone is brought inside to further warm the generous space. All of this serves as a backdrop to the large sliding glass doors, which extend the living room out onto the pool deck. The roof line over the deck was purposely kept low, framing the panoramic city view and Westlake Hills. The owners enjoy the effortless drama created by an open plan and clean detailing that allows the surrounding tree-covered hillsides and downtown city views to be the focus of one’s experience in the house.
Visit the Dick Clark Architecture website – here.
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naty on 10 Jan 2011 at 4:38 pm #
I like it so much
Ray on 10 Jan 2011 at 5:31 pm #
I love this house.
My only negative comment would be in a new build with that much thought about detail, surely one could find a better way to incorporate a flat screen TV other than “stuck” on the wall above that gorgeous fireplace. It really takes away from that wall and the room.
Graham Roebeck on 10 Jan 2011 at 7:51 pm #
Very well done, the tranverse section and volume of the house suggest traditional ranch style yet the outside has contemporary blade arrangements. Fine architectural detailing and workmanship pull this together nicely with a deftness of touch. The horizontal materials and vertical blades reference FLW’s work, the Kaufman house especially.
Nice!!
marshen on 10 Jan 2011 at 8:20 pm #
I don’t know what it is about this house but it just seems to miss the mark of a great design. Possibly the too similar choices of materials used, the busy glass tile in the kitchen and bath, the metal framed windows where maybe wood would have been better. The beautiful wood ceiling in the living area that floats high above the rest of the space neither anchoring or connecting to anything else in the space. I agree with Ray, no better way to wreck a monumental fireplace than placing a TV screen over it.
robato on 10 Jan 2011 at 10:15 pm #
Agree with Ray. Flatscreen TV above the fireplace? It’s like a black hole in the living room.
House is nice enough but the owners need to invest in some interesting art, better furniture, and maybe some colored paint.
BjZ on 11 Jan 2011 at 7:53 am #
Wouldn’t the heat from the fireplace affect the tv? Anywho i love this house, the view also. Dick Clark has done another great job. But the living room furniture is a tad boring. The stone work is excellent though, 2 thumbs up on that.
Great on 11 Jan 2011 at 8:00 am #
The monotony of material and color is boring to say the least. And the fact that this is Texas everything is magnified. The exterior doesn’t live up to its beautiful setting.
Ina garten da vida on 11 Jan 2011 at 7:57 pm #
Makes for a better conference center or office building than a house/home.
fotomatt on 18 Jan 2011 at 12:07 pm #
Great floor plan. Love this style of Texas architecture. Entry court facade is a bit clumsy – looks disorganized. What stands out to me is the ultra modern kitchen – while it’s nice by itself, it looks totally out of place in this house.