Residence 1446 / Miró Rivera Architects

Architects: Miró Rivera Architects
Location: Austin, United States
Design Team: Carina Coel, Bud Franck, Clayton Fry, Leland Ulmer
Design Partners: Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP Miguel Rivera, AIA LEED AP
Project Architect/Manager: Edward Richardson
Area: 7075.0 ft2
Photographs: Paul Finkel | Piston Design

Civil Engineer: Aupperle Company
Structural Engineer: Architectural Engineers Collaborative
Mep Engineer: A. A. Gonzalez Engineers
Lighting: ArcLight Design
Specialty Metal Work: Jim Thomas Bronze Studio, Inc.
General Contractor: Don Crowell, Inc.

Text description provided by the architects. Situated in a low-lying field adjacent to both a lake and a quiet lagoon, Residence 1446 was the final element of a 10-year master plan that includes a guest house, pedestrian bridge, pool and boathouse. To contrast with the verticality of the three-story guest house, this one-level home is defined by a horizontality that responds quietly and sensitively to its serene wetland surroundings.

The design aims to create architectural interventions that both respect and enhance this unique site. Thick limestone walls define the east-west axis that guides occupants from the entry courtyard, through the house, and to the expansive views of the site, lake and hills beyond. Long, horizontal apertures and dramatically-angled rooftops provide sweeping panoramas, while deeply- recessed overhangs offer shade and privacy to this family setting, providing a modern take on the “American porch.” The architecture frames the landscape, disappearing through the transparency of the glass walls, while clerestory windows flood the space with natural light.

The materials further reflect this connection to the landscape. Rough-hewn, locally sourced limestone travels through the house from interior to exterior, reinforcing the natural connection to the site while striking a balance with the home’s modern aesthetic.