Reasons to move to Austin, Texas:
- Best breakfast tacos ever.
- Awesome live music scene.
- Vibrant cultural hub.
- Great parks and outdoor lifestyle.
- Best breakfast tacos ever.
OK, OK, perhaps my reasons to live in Austin don’t quite mesh with yours, but we can certainly find common ground. For example, this stunning architectural gem on 3.8 wooded acres just off the shores of Lake Austin is more than enough incentive to pack up the moving van and hit the road to the Lone Star State.
“This property is spectacular,” says listing agent Eric Moreland, who has “been focused on Lake Austin” since he started handling luxury homes in the area in 1996. The Moreland Properties broker notes that “buyers are drawn to this area because you’re still getting acreage.”
The five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom home with multiple outdoor living areas takes full advantage of that acreage with a raised board path that wends through native plantings. “It’s also very private,” Moreland adds, “with live oak trees that make the house feel secluded. You wouldn’t expect the house to be there until you’ve driven up to it.”
That was intentional, says Alterstudio Architecture’s Kevin Alter, a member of the team that created the striking modern structure. “The rolling landscape was quite beautiful. We tried to put the building in an optimal position, to retain the latent experience of place.”
Architecture award committees have cited the natural feel of the house, which has won multiple awards. For example, the Architecture Master Prize jury wrote that “the house welcomes engagement with the circumstances of this particular landscape as one moves through the house, providing a sense of the entire property in incidental moments.”
Back inside, the interplay of rift-sawn oak, mill-finished steel, galvanized metal panels and concrete alternates in orientation and pattern. Huge windows and skylights highlight the different materials and textures, which are animated by sun and shade over the course of a day. The glowing cabinetry and wall treatments contrast with simple concrete floors to provide a calm yet distinguished atmosphere. The floor plan flows seamlessly from living areas to an open kitchen anchored by a huge island.
The primary suite is a sanctuary, with windows surrounding the bed and a glass-walled shower, plus an outdoor shower, which opens to a secluded patio. The second floor features a bedroom, exercise room, office and wet bar that opens to a rooftop deck with dramatic views.
The separate pool house is a stand-alone jewel that embraces outdoor living and features a kitchen and bathroom, living room, bedroom, bocce ball court and more.
The energy-efficient house is solid, built to last, and has a low-carbon footprint in harmony with its surrounding, rolling landscape. “The original idea was to do single-story,” Alter says, “but we added the second story to take advantage of the sunsets playing off the cliffs in the west.
“There was a great deal of subtlety, extraordinary attention to detail in the plans, followed by the construction. It was lovely the amount of pride and care that the craftsman put into their work,” he adds. One aspect stands out in particular for Alter: “The concrete work is so beautifully done, the use of different forms and patterns – back-of-the-seam stuff – that catches the light. It really comes alive in the Texas sun.”
Now, let’s do a visualization exercise: Brew a fresh cup of coffee, park yourself on the patio outside the pool house, put your feet up and relax, and wait for the doorbell to ring. It’s the delivery driver—your order of the best breakfast tacos ever is here. Welcome to Austin.
The asking price for 2508 North Cuernavaca Drive is available on request.
Read more: Contemporary Home Embraces Nature In Austin’s Desirable Tarrytown
Read more: West Lake Hills Estate Offers Contemporary Living In Rural Vibe Texas
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