A ranch house built in 1970 originally occupied this tree filled lot on a cul-de-sac in Northwest Austin. The initial plan was to remodel the house and add a partial second story for two additional bedrooms and a game room. Preliminary plans were drawn but underlying problems with the original house stood in the way of finalizing the design. One issue was the low 8-foot ceiling and how to create a loftier space without disassembling the entire roof. The other issues pertained to the cracks in the concrete slab and drywall and evidence of moisture build up behind the brick facade. These issues indicated that the house sat too low on the site for proper drainage and that the foundation was not adequately designed for the soil conditions below.

It was decided that a complete demolition was in order and a new house would be built. This decision allowed for complete design freedom and the opportunity to raise the house to solve the drainage problem and allow room for a new back deck substructure. However, new construction meant complying with new McMansion zoning rules in addition to other existing constraints on the property, particularly two heritage trees just behind the house and a power line running along the back and side property lines.

The result is a 4700 sf house occupying the same general footprint of the original slab. A two story bedroom wing runs perpendicular to an open living/dining room with a vaulted ceiling adjacent to a large kitchen and mudroon/laundry room. The house, tucked behind the huge trees in the front yard respects the smaller scale of the neighborhood while capturing views of the backyard and tree canopies.