“The way it’s situated in the site is the most successful thing about this project — how the views are descendant and ascendant, the way that not one view is the same. … It’s not about money or about luxury; it’s about the luxury of nature.”
— Paola Calzada
Location Austin
Clients Patricia Snodgrass and Doug Swarin
Architect Alterstudio Architecture
Design Team Kevin Alter, Ernesto Cragnolino, FAIA, Tim Whitehill, Matt Slusarek, AIA, Haifa Hammami, Elizabeth Syndor, AIA
Contractor Matt Sitra Custom Homes
Structural Engineer MJ Structures
Mechanical Engineer Positive Energy
Geotechnical Engineer Capital Geotechnical Services
Landscape Architect Aleman Design Build
The Falcon Ledge Residence was built on a property long written off as a possible home site, and the building’s form — an unexpected tower rising above the tree canopy — was largely determined by the logic of its sequencing. A platform built adjacent to the street for construction staging later became a garage and bridge connecting to a tall, taut home organized with living spaces on top and private spaces below. Oriented for energy efficiency, the compact volume features deep recesses framing views through a steel panel skin, operable windows promoting cross ventilation, and glazing strategies that optimize daylight. The design is rooted in an ecological approach that acknowledges finite resources as a positive contributor in the creation of ethical architecture.