Forest Park

Located just west of downtown Austin, Forest Park is a new 4 bedroom 4 ½ bath house totaling 3,960 SF. Perched on the edge of a gentle slope change and set well back from the street, the house rises from its park-like setting on a brick plinth. It is organized with the rigor of a classical building, yet executed in a manner which is decidedly modern.

Careful and quiet detailing gives the house a sharp graphic quality as viewed from the street. A shallow hipped roof appears to float above a classically ordered two story brick volume. Windows are stacked over one another and stitched together with an undulating brick detail. A similar patterned breeze block window at the garage balances the composition.

The rear elevation is organized with the same rhythm of windows from the front façade, although two of its bays are filled with a projecting two story volume. Cementitious panel and battens clad the projecting volume with lines continuous from the frames of the screened porch below.

Order also pervades the interior; organized along the length of the house, public spaces are flanked by a rhythm of solid and void created by full height millwork between daylight openings.

Daylight is abundant and balanced throughout. In addition to the windows on the front and rear façade, a centrally located stair and light well spill into the foot of the Kitchen. Opposite the kitchen, a small window on the floor of the exaggerated firebox allows it to glow, without flame.

The challenge was to create approachable but stylish interiors, combining extremely durable, with soft furnishings for two rambunctious toddlers. The owner wanted to reuse furniture and collected vintage treasures while mixing in contemporary and slightly bohemian pieces. We kept a soft muted palette upstairs and lively, high chroma palette downstairs.

Owner’s comments: “We ended up with a modern design with traditional materials. It's designed with symmetrical precision, giving us all the benefits of an open, spacious floor plan and reinforced with the trusted quality of traditional materials.”