MOUNT SHARP RESIDENCE 

After years of weekend visits and time spent getting to intimately know their site, the clients’ main charge was to realize a house which would allow them to use and enjoy the land to its fullest. Located in the rolling landscape of Wimberley, Texas, it was only natural to take advantage of the miniature plateaus contained within the 22-acre lot. These “land shelves” span across the site in the east-west direction making them an ideal platform for a house which takes advantage of both solar and wind orientation.

The program is organized in a linear fashion along a primary narrow land shelf and is divided with thickened walls which are intended to collect private areas and enclose the storage zones needed in the house. Low-lying roofs follow the contours of the site and span from one wall to the next. Ultimately, the thickened walls create interior spaces unobstructed by structure or partitions, allowing the house to be easily penetrated by breezes, natural daylight and views available on the site. The materiality of the project is concentrated, regional, and meant to provide comfort and shelter when the elements are extreme, yet its solidity dissolves when the house is opened up.

Location: Austin, Texas | Phase: Completed 2019 | Architecture Team: Sarah Johnson, Matt Fajkus, David Birt, Michael Deere | General Contractor: Brian Long Custom Homes | Structural Engineer: Arch Consulting Engineers | Landscape Design: Eden Garden Design | Interior Design: Paula Ables Design