Rutherford Residence

Sited on a hillside in Travis Heights, just south of Lady Bird Lake, the Rutherford
Residence reaches skyward to capture views of Austin’s skyline. Early studies
done with drone photography and careful measurements determined the
optimal height of the building envelope. The design process focused on the
dual nature of the site: intimate, lush and steep toward the back; open and
urban toward the front.

The exterior entry stair ascends a natural ridge, following a zig-zagging steel
plate retaining wall to the large front porch on the main floor, 10’ above the
driveway. The porch is sheltered by the cantilevered dining room and 3rd floor
porch above. The entry wall is clad in dark stained cedar, in contrast to the
primary cladding of white stucco. A steel-framed stair rises through the interior,
filtering light from large windowns on the west facade. The lower level living
area opens to a screened porch, extending living space toward the pool and
landscaped hillside beyond.

The top floor of the house comprises a master suite with a balcony overlooking
the backyard and pool, and the main living area, dining room, and kitchen,
which open (through a stacking multi-slider glass door) onto a large covered
patio facing Lady Bird Lake.