From the street, it looks like a shed, inside, this home’s a sanctuary

May 21, 2025
A bold mix of industrial and refined materials, this modern home pairs rusted corrugated steel with a shimmering mosaic wall for a striking first impression. The narrow window offers a glimpse into the tranquil, glass-lined interior.

You won’t find windows or fences here, just a bold idea for urban privacy. Designed by Specht Novak, the Stealth House transforms a leftover lot into a hidden retreat of steel, silence, and sunlit courtyards. Every inch of its 1,100 square feet is a study in purpose, sustainability, and calm.

This house began as a conceptual project, a “paper architecture” experiment in using unbuildable urban land. But when architect Scott Specht found a tiny, walkable lot in Austin, Texas, he realized he could turn the concept into a real home.

The facade: rusted steel and radical privacy

From the street, or more accurately, the alley, the Stealth House appears more like an art installation than a residence. Its corrugated weathered steel exterior is striking: raw, rust-toned, and windowless. But this isn’t just a design choice. It’s a strategy of privacy.

Without windows or fences, the house redefines boundaries. There’s no need for blinds or hedges. The steel cladding forms a clean perimeter that’s both architectural and philosophical, a modern fortress that embraces minimalism while inviting curiosity.

A bold mix of industrial and refined materials, this modern home pairs rusted corrugated steel with a shimmering mosaic wall for a striking first impression. The narrow window offers a glimpse into the tranquil, glass-lined interior.
A bold mix of industrial and refined materials, this modern home pairs rusted corrugated steel with a shimmering mosaic wall for a striking first impression. The narrow window offers a glimpse into the tranquil, glass-lined interior.

The entry + transition: stepping into stillness

The entrance, tucked along the pedestrian alley, doesn’t reveal much from the outside. But stepping inside flips the narrative. You move from opaque shell to unexpected openness. The transition is carefully choreographed, like entering a courtyard in an ancient Roman home, quiet, protected, and inward-focused.

The first glimpse is of sunlight filtered through trees, reflecting off floor-to-ceiling glass. You realize the house doesn’t need outward views. It creates its own.

A bold mix of industrial and refined materials, this modern home pairs rusted corrugated steel with a shimmering mosaic wall for a striking first impression. The narrow window offers a glimpse into the tranquil, glass-lined interior.

Courtyard: the house turned inside out

The courtyard is the heart of the Stealth House, pulling greenery, daylight, and fresh air into the core. Based on ancient inward-facing layouts, it quietly controls the home’s atmosphere, from brightness to breeze to sense of enclosure.

At the center is a young olive tree, destined to grow into a wide canopy. It shades the courtyard, softens sound, and creates a living focal point.

Every major space in the Stealth House faces the courtyard through floor-to-ceiling glass. These transparent walls blur the line between inside and out.

This serene courtyard anchors the home with a sculptural olive tree framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. Natural light floods the kitchen and living spaces while rusted steel cladding brings warmth and texture to the modern design.
This serene courtyard anchors the home with a sculptural olive tree framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. Natural light floods the kitchen and living spaces while rusted steel cladding brings warmth and texture to the modern design.
This serene courtyard anchors the home with a sculptural olive tree framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. Natural light floods the kitchen and living spaces while rusted steel cladding brings warmth and texture to the modern design.
This serene courtyard anchors the home with a sculptural olive tree framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. Natural light floods the kitchen and living spaces while rusted steel cladding brings warmth and texture to the modern design.
This serene courtyard anchors the home with a sculptural olive tree framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. Natural light floods the kitchen and living spaces while rusted steel cladding brings warmth and texture to the modern design.

Living room: compact space, expansive feel

Despite its modest size, the living room feels spacious and composed. Clean lines, warm wood cabinetry, and a restrained color palette keep the focus on texture and form. A deep white sectional and rug add comfort and personality, while sculptural accents and curated details bring the space to life without clutter.

This cozy living room blends earthy textures and warm wood tones with expansive glass walls that open to lush bamboo landscaping. A colorful rug and sculptural furnishings add comfort and character to the modern minimalist space.
This cozy living room blends earthy textures and warm wood tones with expansive glass walls that open to lush bamboo landscaping. A colorful rug and sculptural furnishings add comfort and character to the modern minimalist space.
This cozy living room blends earthy textures and warm wood tones with expansive glass walls that open to lush bamboo landscaping. A colorful rug and sculptural furnishings add comfort and character to the modern minimalist space.
This cozy living room blends earthy textures and warm wood tones with expansive glass walls that open to lush bamboo landscaping. A colorful rug and sculptural furnishings add comfort and character to the modern minimalist space.
This cozy living room blends earthy textures and warm wood tones with expansive glass walls that open to lush bamboo landscaping. A colorful rug and sculptural furnishings add comfort and character to the modern minimalist space.
This cozy living room blends earthy textures and warm wood tones with expansive glass walls that open to lush bamboo landscaping. A colorful rug and sculptural furnishings add comfort and character to the modern minimalist space.
A metal bar unit displays wine bottles and glassware with effortless style, paired with a sculptural round mirror. Warm wood finishes and soft textures in the background create a cozy yet refined living space.

Kitchen + dining: minimal, efficient, warm

The kitchen is sleek and deeply integrated into the architecture. Wood cabinetry wraps around the space, hiding appliances and creating a warm, seamless visual flow. The backsplash is lined with muted green tiles, offering a soft contrast to the wood and echoing the home’s connection to nature. A crisp white island anchors the room and is completed with olive-toned stools.

Tucked just off the kitchen is a built-in dining nook in an intimate, wood-wrapped alcove that feels both cozy and tailored. The velvet-textured bench seats and floating wood table offer a quiet place for meals, conversation, or work, with a pendant globe casting a soft glow overhead.

Rich wood cabinetry sets a warm tone in this modern kitchen, where clean white countertops and olive-toned backsplash tiles add depth. A built-in breakfast nook doubles as a cozy workspace, blending form and function beautifully.
Rich wood cabinetry sets a warm tone in this modern kitchen, where clean white countertops and olive-toned backsplash tiles add depth. A built-in breakfast nook doubles as a cozy workspace, blending form and function beautifully.
Rich wood cabinetry sets a warm tone in this modern kitchen, where clean white countertops and olive-toned backsplash tiles add depth. A built-in breakfast nook doubles as a cozy workspace, blending form and function beautifully.

Bedroom: compact comfort with connection to green

The bedroom feels like a private retreat, wrapped in warm textures and natural light. A full-height glass wall opens to the courtyard, bringing in greenery and soft daylight while keeping the space serene and secluded. Thoughtful details like grasscloth wallpaper and built-in shelving add quiet sophistication.

This serene bedroom blends soft textures with sleek lines, opening to a tranquil courtyard garden. Floor-to-ceiling glass draws nature inward, while warm wood floors and grasscloth walls ground the space in quiet luxury.

Bathroom: rich materiality and luxury

The bathroom balances rich materiality with openness and light. A wood double vanity with matte black fixtures anchors the space, paired with full-height mirrors and globe lights that reflect natural light throughout. The shower, lined in dark mosaic tile, has views of a small private courtyard, where plants and corrugated metal create a serene, spa-like backdrop. It’s a space that feels both grounded and quietly luxurious.

Clean lines and earthy textures define this spa-like bathroom. The floating walnut vanity and matte black fixtures feel warm yet modern, while a glass shower opens to a private garden framed by vertical cedar slats.
This moody double shower pairs rich mosaic tile with a glass wall that opens to a minimalist courtyard. The balance of dark texture and natural light gives the space a grounded, spa-like feel.

Here are the architectural drawings that guided the design.

Architectural drawings for a modern home with a corrugated steel exterior and an interior courtyard.
Architectural drawings for a modern home with a corrugated steel exterior and an interior courtyards.
Architectural drawings for a modern home with a corrugated steel exterior and an interior courtyards.
Architectural drawings for a modern home with a corrugated steel exterior and an interior courtyards.

The Stealth House feels calm by design, a quiet retreat shaped by intention. More than a home, it’s a model for urban living that values privacy, sustainability, and thoughtful use of space.

Photography by Leonid Furmanski | Architect: Specht Novak | Builder: Smock Build