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Collection by Jami Smith

Unique Houses in Austin, Texas

These five Austin homes from the Dwell archive combine sustainable design with contemporary ingenuity.

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Landscape architect Tait Moring installed pavers around the structure’s perimeter and kept the tree cover intact. Photo by: Kimberly Davis
Landscape architect Tait Moring installed pavers around the structure’s perimeter and kept the tree cover intact. Photo by: Kimberly Davis
Edgeland House, built on a cliff-top lot in Austin by architect Thomas Bercy for lawyer and writer Chris Brown, is topped by a living roof to help it blend into the landscape. The concrete, steel, and glass house is divided into two distinct public and private halves.
Edgeland House, built on a cliff-top lot in Austin by architect Thomas Bercy for lawyer and writer Chris Brown, is topped by a living roof to help it blend into the landscape. The concrete, steel, and glass house is divided into two distinct public and private halves.
Native grasses spill forth from the green roof toward a stairway leading to the main level.
Native grasses spill forth from the green roof toward a stairway leading to the main level.
Homeowners Alex Wolfe and Jamie Thorvilson recently moved into the Wolfe Den, which sits on a quiet residential block in Austin. The facade, clad in massarunduba hardwood sourced from a managed forest supplier, strikes a sharp modern chord but still echoes the painted wood siding on many of the neighboring homes.
Homeowners Alex Wolfe and Jamie Thorvilson recently moved into the Wolfe Den, which sits on a quiet residential block in Austin. The facade, clad in massarunduba hardwood sourced from a managed forest supplier, strikes a sharp modern chord but still echoes the painted wood siding on many of the neighboring homes.
Along the entire west side of the house, a lush courtyard creates private exterior space that can be enjoyed during much of the year in Austin, particularly with large shade trees overhead. The entire ground level of the house opens onto the courtyard, including the first-floor shower.
Along the entire west side of the house, a lush courtyard creates private exterior space that can be enjoyed during much of the year in Austin, particularly with large shade trees overhead. The entire ground level of the house opens onto the courtyard, including the first-floor shower.
Anne Suttles waters the bamboo muhly, palo verde, strawberry tree, and magic carpet thyme thriving in their Austin yard.
Anne Suttles waters the bamboo muhly, palo verde, strawberry tree, and magic carpet thyme thriving in their Austin yard.
Suttles and Shah readied the house for photovoltaic panels, a solar waterheating system for the pool, and a rainwater collection setup.
Suttles and Shah readied the house for photovoltaic panels, a solar waterheating system for the pool, and a rainwater collection setup.
Alter wanted to design an approachable, livable space that possessed unique character and addressed the residents’ personal tastes. “My role as an architect is somewhere between trusted adviser and clients’ representative. My goal was to help figure out what would make a house meaningful for them.” The Avenue G house was the winner of the AIA Austin 2010 Design Awards' Honor Award.
Alter wanted to design an approachable, livable space that possessed unique character and addressed the residents’ personal tastes. “My role as an architect is somewhere between trusted adviser and clients’ representative. My goal was to help figure out what would make a house meaningful for them.” The Avenue G house was the winner of the AIA Austin 2010 Design Awards' Honor Award.
In the late nineteenth century, the area surrounding the Avenue G Residence was home to the annual Texas State Fair. Though the corn dogs and cattle barns are long gone, remnants of the fair’s horse track are still evident in the supersize dimensions of the Avenue G property. The generous lot is unusual in light of the rather small footprint of the house. In fact, as Alter suggests, “the land value far exceeded that of the building.”
In the late nineteenth century, the area surrounding the Avenue G Residence was home to the annual Texas State Fair. Though the corn dogs and cattle barns are long gone, remnants of the fair’s horse track are still evident in the supersize dimensions of the Avenue G property. The generous lot is unusual in light of the rather small footprint of the house. In fact, as Alter suggests, “the land value far exceeded that of the building.”