| For this house in Austin, Texas, local architects Webber + Studio started with a simple box and ended up with an L-shaped plan that creates an intimate outdoor space. In the process of this evolution, they created a double-height void at the front of the house, a striking first impression. This space is also related to the rest of the house, as the stairs peeking out actually lead to a bridge with bedrooms and a study in the long leg of the "L." Private Comment
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| Here is another double-height living space with glazing on opposite sides, though here the glass swings or slides open to make the space semi-outdoor. A third glazed side of the large room faces a small terrace and an outdoor fireplace. What is clear in this space more than others collected here is the structure needed for this volume: both the round columns on the left and the concrete shear walls on the right. Private Comment
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| This house in Sonoma, California is the first of two designs by Cooper Joseph Studio presented here that utilize double-height living spaces. Amazingly this house is a renovation and reconfiguration of an unexceptional house that featured a wraparound deck. This last piece is maintained but redesigned, overlooking the living area as well as the landscape. A wood lattice above the deck helps to shade this open interior from sunlight. Private Comment
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| Looking at the concrete wall in the Sonoma guest house, it's apparent that the double-height living space is a means for dealing with the site's change in elevation. In this view, the tall space is surprisingly intimate, a great setting for looking at the horizon out the window. Private Comment
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| This example from the Pacific Northwest shows that double-height living spaces are not limited to suburban houses. The living rooms in these lofts are further highlighted by operable garage doors fitted with glass... Private Comment
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| ...on two sides! Not only is the living room literally opened to the outdoors, a terrace on one side becomes an extension of the inside. The tall space allows these doors to go up without having to turn into the space as is typical with garage doors — a potential conflict with two doors at a corner. Private Comment
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