Bold Ruler House

Bold Ruler House is a 4,730-square-foot residence completed by Bercy Chen Studio in 2015, situated on a limestone hillside in Westlake Hills, Texas. The project responds to its sloping site with an arrangement inspired by the clustered forms of Roman and Etruscan hill towns, while engaging the surrounding views of the Texas Hill Country. The house is organized as a series of linked stucco and glass volumes, set between imposing demising walls made from more than 400 locally sourced limestone blocks. Entered from the higher street elevation, the structure is anchored to the terrain before cantilevering over the slope. Interior circulation flows from a foyer with immediate views outward, leading to a guest wing and an open-plan great room containing kitchen, dining, and living functions. These main spaces are defined by the stone walls and open entirely to a continuous glass facade, offering outlooks to a negative-edge pool and spa. A double-height flex space connects the public area to a master suite, which extends to a private suspended deck. The home’s composition of heavy masonry and lighter stucco is tied together under a weathered steel roof referencing the nearby Pennybacker Bridge and regional material palettes.

Typical architect fee for a 4,730 sq ft new home here: $72,000 – $201,000Full services, Texas · BLS wage and Census construction data

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