Showing posts with label Austin. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Architecture Wednesday: Spanish Revival Compound

This is the Sanctuary in the Amarra community of Barton Creek—a serene enclave in one of Austin’s most coveted communities. This Mediterranean compound draws inspiration from the world's most enchanting landscapes and the wind-swept, desert-inspired home welcomes you with chiseled granite stone walls framing an open-air entry courtyard with natural features like olive and orchid trees lining the approach to the main entrance.

This home unfolds across three distinct structures: a charming casita, a third garage or fitness pavilion, and the primary residence, all thoughtfully crafted. The single-story home has privacy at its core with four bedrooms and four-and-one-half bathrooms across 5,000 square feet and 1.65 acres, including three terraced lawns that offer space to roam and a lush green space that cascades toward a Barton Creek tributary, creating a veil of privacy for the 60-foot lap pool with dual negative-edges, dining, and lounge terraces.

A Spanish Revival Portico invites you into that central courtyard, where a marble fountain, lemon trees, and a limestone fireplace lull the senses into peaceful stillness. Once inside the simplicity of timeless Mediterranean modern architecture meets artisan craftsmanship with arched hallways found in the living and dining spaces, hand-finished Venetian plaster and historic reclaimed beams with cool, coarse-grained granite floors extend outward to seven glass-paneled doors framing Hill Country views.

Off the foyer, the dining room faces the courtyard through a wall of windows. A large arched opening leads into the living room, with another wall of glass, this one framing the pool and the views; a massive stone fireplace sits at one end of the room, with the kitchen through another archway, and roughhewn beams overhead.

In the chef’s kitchen, refined luxury meets function with top-of-the-line Wolf appliances, like a built-in Wolf grilling station and wet bar to make for seamless indoor/outdoor living. The family, open to both the kitchen and the shaded back porch frame the green spaces all around and highlight the dramatic and breathtaking views and eternity-edged pool.

A small office at one side of the home shares a private patio and views with the primary suite that opens to the pool deck as well. The primary bath features dual sinks, a walk-in shows and a soaking tub with a view. There are three other bedrooms in the house, each with beamed ceilings and Hill Country views. Outside there is another living area, large dining table, as well as an outdoor kitchen for those nights when you want to live outside.

It's peaceful and serene; a true oasis in the hills.

Dwell

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Architecture Wednesday: Sand Dollar House

The Sand Dollar House, a cherished landmark in Lakeway near Austin Texas, was built in 1979 by John Covert Watson, who was studying with Frank Lloyd Wright during the construction of the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Originally designed as a second residence for artist Eugenia Hunt, the home exemplifies organic modern architecture, featuring steel and Gunite construction with elegant curved white walls throughout, and has captivated passersby for decades with its stunning location by the lake.

Each room offers breathtaking views of Lake Travis through large windows and sliding doors that lead to balconies and patios extending to the water's edge. A notable highlight of the home is its captivating spiral staircase with wooden treads, crowned by teardrop-shaped skylights reminiscent of a sand dollar.

The Great Room showcases a floating wood bench against a curved wall, complemented by a kiva-style fireplace, creating an inviting space for intimate gatherings. The distinctive round kitchen, adorned with a blend of blue tiles and wood cabinets, appears to float above a lower deck and, yes, my one quibble is that kitchen island which would hold perhaps two martini glasses and no more. All three bedrooms are situated on the lower level, each opening onto porches through glass doors, providing serene retreats with lake views.

Sand Dollar was designed for entertaining, to allow guests to savor panoramic vistas from within, then seamlessly transition to expansive porches and decks leading to the lakeshore and wide lawns, ensuring every gathering is as unforgettable as Sand Dollar.