A house with no windows, at first mention, sounds less than ideal. However, for Scott Specht, cofounder of Specht Novak Architects, the idea held weight as a way to mitigate problems of density, privacy, and adaptability for an exposed lot in Austin, Texas, he purchased in 2019. The parcel, located in the South Congress neighborhood, is on an alley, and being within walking distance of popular restaurants and shops, gets its share of foot traffic.

Bakshai. The house features two bedrooms, two bathroom, and, notably, no exterior-facing windows." layout="" credit="Photo by Leonid Furmansky" photoUserId=""/>

To create a residence there for himself and his wife, Shiraz Bakshai, that’s shielded from the trickle of passersby, he gave it a distinctly cagey exterior that borrows from historic courtyard homes: not a single window faces outward. “There is always a vision of sitting on the front porch and waving to the neighbors walking by. It sounds nice, but in places like Austin it doesn’t happen much,” says Scott.

Yet for how closed off the facade is, the residence has a surprisingly open and light-filled living space. At its core is a courtyard garden surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass walls. A second narrow outdoor space flanked by a light well lines nearly the entire length of the home’s northwest side, bringing additional light into a guest bedroom, both bathrooms, and living room.

The couple wanted their two-bed, two-bath house to be economical in size, but didn’t have much choice, given that their lot was zoned for a maximum of of 1,100 square feet. The second bedroom has a Murphy bed for guests and serves as an office space for Shiraz, who primarily works from home. “We literally use every square foot of this house every day,” says Scott. “There’s no wasted space.”

$3,000 Site Work	$21,420.52 Excavation (including rough and final grading)	$35,119 Foundation (concrete and drainage)
$62,157 Structural	$37,029.03 Siding	$6,976.41 Insulation
$6,165 Exterior Finishes (tile and paint)	$58,519.18 Interior Finishes (drywall, trim, paint, and tile)	$8,112.21 Interior Glass (mirrors and showers)
$21,000 Roofing	$2,297.34 Hardware	$14,193.65 Flooring
$31,585 Electrical	$28,991 Plumbing	$28,538 HVAC
$28,000 Landscaping	$10,729.30 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures	$4,273.47 Lighting
$53,090.06 Cabinetry	$12,836.52 Countertops	$11,477.42 Appliances
$27,250.83 Windows	$35,851.98 Doors	$358.19 Permitting
$68,297.60 General Contractor	$4,845 Waste/Debris Removal	$8,230.31 Testing & Inspections
$7,572.90 Insurance	$490.88 Storage	$3,124.84 Site Security/Management
$3,653.14 Miscellaneous
Grand Total: $645,185.78

“The house is a weird mix of very inexpensive, off-the-shell stuff where it’s appropriate and then very customized, more expensive stuff where it has the most impact,” says Scott. More economical choices include modified Ikea pieces and plumbing fixtures by Kohler, which Scott considers affordable compared with other brands his clients request. One of the biggest, and most immediately distinguishable, splurges is a green mosaic wall that defines the home’s exterior; to make it, the couple spent $6,765 on Bisazza glass tiles from Italy. “It’s not cheap, but we limited it,” says Scott. Meanwhile, the rest of the exterior is clad in corrugated Cor-Ten steel.

The steel is just one in a series of low-maintenance choices made for the home; another is the front garden with its gravel and cacti, both of which require little upkeep. But then there’s the olive tree that takes center stage in the courtyard, and thus, the entire home. Not being native to central Texas, it takes a bit more TLC, says Scott. “That’s our baby. It has required a little tampering, but it’s happy here now.”

Since moving into their home in October 2024, Scott and Shiraz have been very content to enjoy their newly completed albeit somewhat unconventional home. “I was a little worried about building this and having no windows, only internal views,” says Scott. “But it’s been much more light-filled and pleasant than any other house I’ve ever lived in.”

More Budget Breakdown stories:

An $80K ADU Gives a Growing Austin Family Space for Work—and Working Out

This Austin Couple's $1.1 Million Renovation Started With a Yurt

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Specht Novak / @spechtnovak

Builder: Smock Build

Structural Engineer: Steinman Luevano Structures

Interior Design: Specht Novak

Cabinetry: Stroehman Carpentry

Art Fabrication: Andalusia Design

Photographer: Leonid Furmansky / @_leonidfurmansky

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