CURBED Austin's Cindy Widner shares a peek inside the latest project from Austin architecture firm Alterstudio —a firm that's won several Builder's Choice & Custom Design Awards in past years—which stands testament to the firm's talent for "combining influences, materials, functionality, and a few surprises" in its refreshing approach to local residences.
Situated on almost five acres off Bee Caves Road in the Cuernavaca neighborhood northwest of the central city, the four-bedroom home was inspired by a thatched-roof, Nordic barn.
The space, inside and out, displays on a variety of looks that balance the rural setting and influences. There are sleek, open modern spaces as well as areas where exposed and simple materials create a more “rustic modern” look.
A wall of doors and windows allow the main, open-plan living area to blend with the yard and pool with an outdoor kitchen. Artisanship is foregrounded, with everything in the home handcrafted on-site. The wall of windows and doors that opens the back of the house to the view are by Salado-based blacksmiths Fenestration Metalsmiths.
The home’s steel panels, beams, doors, railings, bunk-bed barracks, balustrades, and other metal work were hand-welded by Austin Iron.
