House with Balconies in Austin

Beautiful house with balconies (Balcones House) designed by Mell Lawrence Architects is located in Austin, USA.

The interior of the first floor of the main building extends through large sliding glass doors in the living room and kitchen. The ceiling with steel beams clad in cedar wood covers the southern part of the space, delicately highlighting the window frames with views of the surrounding nature.

The pool is located just beyond this shared area; when the sliding doors are open, the space gently transforms into a swimming area.

The upper spaces are organized in the same simple manner: floor-to-ceiling glazing around the perimeter connects the interior with the wooden deck, sky, and distant views of the city center. The western side is dedicated to a 4.5-meter-wide veranda bathed in tree tops. The feeling of closeness to nature combined with protection and comfort invites rest and contemplation here.

The guest house serves as both a home office and an art studio. Inside, a furniture wall separates the bathroom from the room where you can find a folding table and pull-out drawers, as well as a double bed that unfolds when needed.

Reinforced concrete is the dominant voice in this symphony of materials. The concrete walls of the main house correspond to the climate characteristics of Texas: the smaller external wall protects from the harsh Texas sun, while the thicker internal wall maintains comfortable indoor temperatures even during the hottest summers. The 2.4-meter overhangs further soften the heat during summer months. The principle of 'box within a box' was also applied in the construction of the guest house.

The house with balconies comfortably nestles into the hillside, and all its openings and windows reflect the unhurried movements of leaves and branches. The simplicity of the building forms increases attention to details that give charm to the most ordinary daily activities.

Photos: Leonid Furmansky