Credits
From Texas Construction Company
THE GOAL
To create a gathering place — now and in the future — for all generations of a big family
THE PROCESS
We worked with New York architect David Fox to design a house for his parents, who were relocating to Austin to be near their grandchildren. In addition to proximity to family, it was also important that the three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath house create opportunities for the couple to age comfortably in the home. for aging in place. To that end, Fox developed a single-story, U-shaped design around an internal courtyard. The center part of the 3960-square-foot house is divided into three areas with separate functionality: Den, formal living, and formal dining are defined by paneled partitions that establish spatial separation without closing off each area completely with walls and doors. The bedroom wing holds the master suite and two guest bedrooms, while the other wing includes garage, utility kitchen, and informal dining and living.
Materials that endow the house with a sense of warmth are crucial — a dark standing seam metal roof dramatically complements the Lueders limestone façade, a nod to the stone typical of central Texas. Inside the dwelling, wide oak planks add color and texture throughout. A covered porch provides a pleasant place to contemplate the garden, with automated mosquito screening at the ready when needed. The most significant feature of the home, though, is the open floor plan kitchen, where a dining table shares space with an island for extra seating in a room framed with custom cabinetry and plenty of windows. All invite guests and family to linger in a welcoming space that’s the center of the activity.
THE FINAL RESULT
The new house allows the homeowners to participate in all aspects of their stage of life, from babysitting their grandchildren to hosting their grown children to assembling for holiday gatherings — with the added bonus that, with provisions for aging in place, the couple will be comfortable there for years to come.