Falling Leaves House

Falling Leaves House is a compound and artist retreat set on a steep, 10-acre woodland in West Austin. Commissioned by a young family, the project responds to its site on the edge of limestone cliffs above a stream, within a corridor of cedars, oaks, and wildlife. The design intentionally preserves much of the natural landscape, situating the residence away from suburban development and within untouched habitat. The house is arranged as three distinct glass pavilions that step down the plateau and trace the rimrock, following both the property's slope and the woodland edge. The roofs of each pavilion are shaped in reference to the curled forms of falling oak leaves, sheltering the structures while mediating the transition into the hillside and focusing views outward toward the creek. Distinct uses and orientations define each wing: the living area projects over the cliff, suspended within the tree canopy; the bedroom wing contrasts a solid circulation core with transparent sleeping spaces; and the pool house features a linear lap pool along the cliff edge. An outdoor courtyard at the meeting point of these volumes is anchored by a large limestone boulder and provides a gathering place shaped by the landscape and its elemental qualities.

Typical architect fee for a 3,970 sq ft new home here: $64,000 – $178,000Full services, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX · BLS wage and Census construction data

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