Hilltop Residence

When the new owner of this 1980s house called for a complete renovation, the architects saw the opportunity to transform its dark, dated interiors while taking better advantage of the home’s spectacular location atop a promontory offering a 180-degree view of Lake Austin and the rolling hills beyond.

The existing driveway and garage, which had occupied a large area of prime real estate at the center of the property, were reconfigured in order to provide for a generous, landscaped courtyard accessed by a series of stepped terraces faced with Pennsylvania bluestone. Exterior stucco walls were replaced with warm ipe planks, while a small aluminum trellis and copper-faced, offset-pivot door greet visitors.

Inside, what was once a fragmented collection of spaces was reorganized according to a clear hierarchy. A central great room acts as a hinge point between the east wing housing the dining room, kitchen, breakfast area, wine cellar, and children’s rooms; and the west wing containing the master suite, home office, and exercise room. Zebrawood cabinets, Brazilian cherry floors, and a distinctive fireplace clad in stainless steel mesh accent the interior’s subdued material palette.

In contrast to the existing interiors, which felt dark and claustrophobic despite the presence of floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the residence, the renovated interior spaces focus outward, maximizing the connection to the surrounding landscape. An existing stone terrace along the home’s rear perimeter was reconfigured to create a transitional space between interior and exterior. A sweeping aluminum trellis unifies this zone, providing shade and capturing breezes outdoors while framing views from the interior. Meanwhile, an expanded ipe deck with built-in seating steps down to a zero-edge pool serviced by a small outdoor bar, all set against the seemingly limitless backdrop of the hill country beyond.

PROJECT
Hilltop Residence

LOCATION
Austin, Texas

SCOPE
Renovation

PHOTOGRAPHY
Paul Finkel