Taking advantage of its unique site in Austin’s eclectic Travis Heights neighborhood, the Edgecliff Residence is a play on contrasts: light and shadow, open and closed, organic and orthogonal.
Project Name: Edgecliff Residence
Studio Name: Miró Rivera Architects
Location: Austin, Texas
Photography: Ibai Rigby
Designed for a couple of emptynesters on a modest budget, the home’s contemporary aesthetic respects the scale and character of the existing neighborhood. From the street, the home is characterized by an inventive, low-cost rainscreen made of ordinary galvanized electrical conduit.
The sculptural screen provides shade and privacy while filtering and diffusing sunlight. In contrast, the rear of the house opens up to the natural landscape via large windows and cantilevered terraces. The trapezoidal floor plate responds to the constraints of the long, narrow site— one side parallels the street while the other runs adjacent to the natural contours.
The lower level contains an open-air carport, foyer, and two guest rooms. The main level houses the living spaces. On the upper level, large windows in the master suite offer sweeping views of downtown.
