This Spectacular Texas Retreat Cascades Down a Wooded Hillside

Cantilevered indoor/outdoor spaces and towering walls of glass give this Rollingwood home a tree house–like appeal.

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Lake|Flato Architects associate Brian Comeaux describes the Austin suburb of Rollingwood as a hidden gem. "There’s a lot of activity there now, but it seemed like a secret for a long time," he says. Within the laid-back enclave is one Austin couple’s double-wide lot on a horseshoe-shaped street. Dense with old oak trees, the property backs up to a creek, providing a leafy sanctuary despite being 10 minutes from bustling downtown.

A path of restored rock ledges leads to a dry creek, amphitheater, and private gathering space.

Andrew Pogue

Rollingwood Residence cascades over the ledges while keeping existing trees intact.

Andrew Pogue

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The homeowners, who were looking for something "small but highly designed," were intrigued by Lake|Flato’s modern aesthetic and quickly connected with the architect whom they credit with bringing their vision to life.

In the living room, 18-foot-tall ceilings combine with massive windows.

Andrew Pogue

"We are outdoorsy folks who find solace in nature and wanted our home to be warm, comfortable, and calming," says the homeowner. "In discussions with Lake|Flato, we emphasized our love for the trees and existing landscaping."

A few steps down from the living room is the oversized screened porch with an imposing fireplace, which connects to a first-floor master bedroom. Cantilevered over the surrounding canopy, it has a tree house-like feel.

Andrew Pogue

The first step was to tear down the original 1970s structure on the property. The plan was to preserve the green space to the east, building modestly and thoughtfully on the existing footprint.

"We are not fans of the McMansion," says the homeowner. "A bigger house isn’t always a better house, and because it’s just the two of us and an occasional guest, we didn’t want space that we wouldn’t use."

A combined living room, kitchen, and dining area enjoy ample light and views thanks to the glazed northern facade.

Andrew Pogue

The kitchen showcases seamless maple cabinetry and soapstone counters, elements that pair well to create a simple, cozy atmosphere.

Andrew Pogue

Upstairs, there’s a second-floor office and work by the homeowners’ daughter, artist Kat Marais.

Andrew Pogue

Hovering around 2,400 square feet, Rollingwood Residence cascades like a waterfall down the sloped lot. Floor-to-ceiling windows capture views from every room in the house, and tall ceilings (that reach 18 feet high in the living room) amplify the sense of spaciousness even more.

The couple played with scale and added in large furnishings to complement the tall ceilings.

Andrew Pogue

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Knoll Risom Lounge Chair

The Risom Lounge Chair was born from a relationship between two of the design world’s most influential characters. Besides being the first piece to be commissioned and manufactured by Knoll, it also raised the need for creating inexpensive, simple furnishings in the United States. When a young Jens Risom first met Hans Knoll, Knoll was working as an importer of European Designs and was worried how WWII would disrupt his supply lines. Knoll recruited Risom in the hopes that he could design furniture to be produced locally in New York. After researching the state of manufacturing in the U.S. for four months, they created the 600 Series with materials that weren’t limited by wartime restrictions. The first Lounge Chair was built locally in 1943 with a simple maple frame and discarded parachute webbing. Today, it’s still produced by Knoll—but with 100 percent natural cotton webbing and a frame made of maple or walnut hardwood. You can also choose to have it with or without arms.

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Gubi Pedrera Coffee Table

The Pedrera Coffee Table is designed in 1955 by Barba Corsini for the loft space at the famous landmark, La Pedrera in Barcelona. The coffee table is with its slender base and glass table top, a light table that fits into any contemporary home. The inspiration for the base of the table came from the vaulted ceilings of La Pedrera, which goes again in the Pedrera lamps, thus being characteristics for the collection.

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Maharam Merger Rug

Material research primarily determines all of Hella Jongerius’ designs. Her extensive portfolio includes single pieces exhibited at galleries, mass-produced items sold at retail stores, design of airliner interiors and even the redesign of the North Delegates’ Lounge at UN Headquarters in New York. Jongerius was just beginning her career when she was approached by Maharam to work on a project for its 100th anniversary. Today, she works as Maharam’s design director, and many of her textiles are found in the permanent collections at the Art Institute Chicago, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and MoMA. Jongerius has a very clear idea of what makes a successful rug: “There are three components that have to make music together: interesting yarns, great construction and the right technique to give the pattern dazzling oxygen.” To create her handwoven Merger Rug (2017), she juxtaposed two colors in a diagonal structure for striking visual effect. As for how she made it so beautiful, Jongerius says, “That’s the secret of the color-cooking chef.” Made in India. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

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"It has a big presence," says Comeaux.

The exterior features a combination of Western red cedar, a rot-resistant siding, and Lueders limestone. Inside, the architect went with honed limestone, blackened mesquite flooring, soapstone countertops in the kitchen, clear sealed maple millwork, and exposed Douglas fir joinery. "The maple has a simple look to it, and it’s quiet when paired with richer materials," the architect says. "We looked at the house as a whole collection of materials."

A piece of millwork in one of the master suites doesn't reach the ceiling, allowing light to spill into the mater bath.

Andrew Pogue

The second-floor porch was designed to sit under the branches of a large oak.

Andrew Pogue

Uniquely, both bedrooms in the home are meant to serve as master suites. During the colder months, the couple can opt to sleep upstairs, while the downstairs room is more suitable for humid summers.

The outdoor shower is located right off the main balcony and living room.

Andrew Pogue

The first-floor master, located on the other side of the living room fireplace, includes a minimalistic bathroom with Carrara marble and a sculptural millwork object that acts as storage, housing for the air conditioning unit, and a master closet. Meanwhile, the upstairs master includes dark slate tiling and a patio shaded by a regal oak.

The clean cabinetry and moody tiling yield a relaxing upstairs master bath.

Andrew Pogue

In creating a place of solitude, the homeowners did all of the landscaping themselves, and even created an amphitheater out of the existing rock arches on the property.

"Even though it has the Lake|Flato aesthetic, it’s designed around the way we live," the homeowner concludes.

An offset gable roof also follows the slope of the land.

Andrew Pogue

More by Lake|Flato:

OpenHome Debuts Cutting-Edge Prefab Houses Designed by World-Class Architects

One Family’s Weekend Retreat in East Texas Lets Them Practically Live Outside

A Farmhouse-Inspired Home in the Hudson Valley Taps Into the Power of Prefab

An Imposing Oak Tree Serves as a Living Sculpture in This Texas Home

Modular Compound is the Ultimate Retreat for Three Generations

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Lake|Flato Architects / @lakeflato

Builder: Shoberg Homes /@shoeberg_homes