Lake Austin Residence

by Merzbau Design Collective

The Lake Austin Residence takes advantage of an incredible waterfront site on Lake Austin. The lot drops steeply from a flat area (with small existing house) at the street; the new residence responds to the site by cutting into the hillside with a 12-foot-high retaining wall to form the ground floor. The upper floor is entered at grade, through a 1000-lb custom steel door. A roof deck is planned for a later phase, and will be accessible via a bridge spanning from the edge of the yard at the top of the lot. The lower floor of the house is almost entirely glazed, capturing a panoramic view of Lake Austin. The building is steel-framed with SIPS infill panels, and is clad in raw steel panels and glass. Much of the work was done by the homeowner over the course of a 3-year construction process.