“WE WANTED TO DESIGN A SPACE FOR THE homeowners that would serve as a canvas for their art collection,” said Jay Corder, AIA, principal and owner of Jay Corder Architect in Austin, Texas. “This project was all about finding the balance between the minimalist approach of a gallery with the welcome feel of a family home.”
Jay’s firm began working on what started as a speculative build with a developer. However, it was purchased by the clients as they began to break ground, opening up the possibilities for even more innovative design.
“This project is a good example of how our firm likes to work,” said Jay. “We like to consider the site, our client’s needs, and how to integrate those into a functional design.” The 5,995-square-foot speculative home transformed into a 6,993-square-foot property with additional bedroom suites and a walk-out lower-level living space for the large family.
“We took the clients through the existing plans, ideas and opportunities to expand,” added Jay. “It was cool to see the process play out, and they gave us free rein to really be creative with the approach.”
The home is situated on a private, wooded lot overlooking the rolling hills of a protected wilderness reserve. While the homeowners approached the design with the need to showcase their art collection, they also wanted to frame the stunning views. “We had a unique opportunity with the flag lot,” said project architect Travis Habersaat. “The home is set back from the street, allowing us to have private front and backyard spaces. We could really capitalize on the views with expansive windows.”
Linear, neutral and sleek, the contemporary exterior takes on the gallery vibe with subtle textural variations of stucco and limestone in matching tones paired with dark accents to highlight the horizontal lines. A peaceful water trough feature and reflective pond guide the way to the front door, which opens to a bold, colorful and fuzzy art piece that pops against the neutral palette.
Inside, it’s easy to see the care that went into building homes for each piece in the owners’ treasured collection, especially the playfully bold piano. “The piano was one of the most important pieces to design around,” said Jay. “We played with a few options but decided to take some space from the front porch, allowing the piano to sit in this beautiful glass enclosure. You can even see it from the outside as you approach the home.”
“Lighting was also crucial for highlighting the art collection,” added Travis. “Planning and care went into creating an optimized lighting scheme for the home, for both natural light and accent fixtures.” Thanks to floorto-ceiling windows, there is no shortage of natural light. The homeowners may have set out to frame the views, but the design eliminates any barrier to the serenity of the outdoors.
Of course, the architectural design team didn’t miss the opportunity to create their own sculptural art piece in the home. “The clients wanted to create a special staircase,” said Travis. “It pushes the envelope and becomes a central focal point of the home.” The floating stairs feature a steel construction with white oak steps that cut into glass handrails. “The intersection of the oak treads speaks to the level of detail and planning,” noted Jay. The stairs are encased in a white oak slat screen, adding more visual interest and a play of light and shadow. “The slat screen provides necessary safety, but in a creative way,” said Travis. “It just slightly obscures the steps and invites you to explore further.” From the art to the design, there is plenty to explore.
JAY CORDER ARCHITECT
512-243-8507 | JayCorder.com