A Phoenix

Located within the urban forest that is Westlake Hills, this home was rebuilt upon the site of a devastating fire which destroyed a beloved family home, full of sentiment and art. Only some furnishings and art were able to survive through restoration. This site, the recovered items and memories of what once were, set the stage for this new home. Because the existing building footprint was restricted by zoning and tree cover, the solution needed to be a dense, simple form maximizing a tight building envelope. Spaces are carved from within the simple mass to generate dynamic interior connections and provide dramatic Austin skyline views. Dominate materials include locally available limestone and fir; weathered on the outside, and clear finished on the inside. Continuous porches on two floor levels provide a “fire escape”, included to soothe the Owner. Rising from the ashes of her former home, she lovingly calls this house her “phoenix”.