They happen to own a successful commercial construction company and have built several buildings that use the techniques that would be required to build this home. To pull this off, it would take a creative and dedicated design team, an un-wavering client, and a builder dedicated to working in zero tolerance conditions using unconventional building practices for residential construction.Īfter about a year of bidding and meetings, the client decided they were going to take on the role of general contractor and self-perform. These are the type of projects that often never leave the drafting table, destined to sit buried in a file or occupy the “on the boards” section of a portfolio, never to be realized. Surely, sticker shock would be inevitable once the bidding phase started and would render this project unfeasible. Blank check writing clients are 1 in a million, and the few builders capable of pulling this off were going to take a hefty fee to deliver on the client’s expectations, rightfully so. All the flat, easy, wide open lots in the Urban core are already improved or require bulldozing for new construction. The result would be 5 stories of light filled volumes that stack, shift and slide to allow the natural light to penetrate into the lower areas, create intimate spaces at multiple levels, and generate privacy in what is affectively a high density, small lot neighborhood.Īny architect, builder and client working on projects in central Texas must deal with HOA’s, zoning restrictions, drainage/flooding issues, topography challenges, protected trees, challenging program requirements, budget short comings, etc. There would be 3 levels of terraced foundation with 1 level of structured parking above at street level, and 3 levels of wood framing inside 4 levels of steel super structure. To respect the 2 story context of the neighborhood from street view, as well as the height limit, the solution would have to be vertical by taking advantage of the steep slope below street level, take cue’s from urban townhome design, utilize commercial construction techniques for the foundation and super structure, and offset the impervious cover requirements with a detention system. Unsurprisingly, this lot had been un-improved since it was platted and was up for sale as a “yard” for the neighbors. lot was the equivalent of “20-pounds in a 10-pound bag.” On top of these limitations, there would be no place to store materials and spoils from excavation, no place to put a dumpster, a curious HOA, established neighboring houses on both sides, one point of ingress/egress and no onsite parking. At 45’ wide and 90’deep, the 4,100 square foot lot had building setbacks, a large 33” diameter heritage live oak tree, 30 vertical feet of elevation change, 100 year flood plain at the rear, a limit of 20% impervious cover, and a building height limit of 35’ above grade. All of this on a lot that did not seem feasible at first glance. Make it cool, respect the sun, and don’t disappoint. The client provided program consisted of: a 2 car garage with work bench area, mud/laundry/powder room, large gourmet kitchen with room for 6 at the island, large dining with room for 8, and a buffet/bar area, double height living room, screened balcony with outdoor dining, grill and sink, foyer, master suite with walk in closet, freestanding tub and large shower, guest master suite, sitting/office area outside of these rooms, screened balcony from master, balcony from sitting area, media room with kitchenette, 3 bedrooms, 1 Jack & Jill bath, 1 private/media room bath, laundry room, screen balcony with fireplace and outdoor seating, workout room, sculpture courtyard/reflection pond, covered outdoor living/dining/kitchen with fire pit, half bath and a large swimming pool and hot tub. Located in The Village at Treemont in Rollingwood, TX, the Stack House challenged the status quo of what is possible. Project Cost: USD 1,500,001 – USD 2,000,000Ĭonceived in 2014 and completed in 2020, this contemporary, 4,200 square foot custom home nestled on the side of a steep sloping lot, packs an impressive program of spaces into a small footprint gracefully. Location: Rollingwood, Texas, United States
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