Studio Balcones designed a series of outdoor spaces under the mature Live Oaks that spoke to the elegant details and craftsmanship of this beautiful mid-Century Modern home in central west Austin.
The clients reached out after purchasing this beautiful existing mid-Century Modern home set onto a hillside in a grove of 11 mature Live Oak trees. The existing landscape was fairly hodge podge and clearly done in stages throughout the lifespan of the home. Existing elements included concrete steps from the driveway to the front door, the pool, steel retaining walls throughout, as well as a flat patio space on the west side of the home. They wanted to be sensitive to the existing elements, especially the Live Oak trees and the house as we rethought the outdoor areas.
The clients’ goals were to create a series of outdoor spaces that spoke to the elegant details and craftsmanship of the home. Specific design program elements included creating a more dynamic upper patio off the master bedroom that incorporated decking, a hot tub, and screening from the neighbor to the west.
The clients also wanted a more formal path from that upper patio down to the pool, to add paving/ hardscape around the pool, as well as to create a screened porch out of the existing covered patio.
Given the tucked away nature of the home and the relative lack of presence from the street the clients wanted an entry feature and address signage that would grab visitors’ attention and make their home impossible to miss from the street. We also crafted a plant palette specific to the clients shady and wooded site that would have seasonal interest, texture, and movement throughout the design.
