Westview Residence

Amidst the rolling hills and sprawling Live Oaks of West Austin’s desirable neighborhoods, the few remaining unbuilt properties pose unique challenges—a condition that shaped the Westview Residence. Occupying the last lot on a cul-de-sac of traditional two-story homes, the site drops steeply from its narrow street frontage, bisected by a wet-weather creek meandering through a stand of protected trees. Preserving this natural “wildness” became the foundation of the design. Masonry volumes pinwheel across the ravine, bridged by a great room spanning the occasional waterway. These house the primary programs, creating a private sanctuary with views of the sylvan expanse beyond. Inside, rooms are thresholds, guiding movement from community to enclave to nature. Transparency and light combine with oak ceilings and floors and brick masonry to animate a canvas where nature and circumstance take center stage.

“The relationship with the landscape is super sophisticated—the way the water on the ground plane and the existing oak trees are all left intact—and the structure creates a real sense of space around them without interrupting the existing context. I also appreciate the openness and use of fenestration to connect the outside while creating a variety of interior spaces with moments of intimacy as well as grandeur.”

Barbara Bestor, FAIA