Red Hawk Retreat
Photography by Mell Lawrence.
Office Project Team: Mell Lawrence, Kim Furlong, Krista Whitson, François Levy
Contractor: Mike Battaglia Fine Homes
Structural: Way Consulting Engineering, Inc.
Built for a couple, the 2,900 square-foot stone house stretches along the remote site's rock ledges. Three bays push beyond the simple volume to offer both intimate and distant panoramic views of the hill country. A series of ganged windows and doors connect the structure to its landscape. The low-slung roof with generous overhangs collects rainwater, supplying all household water needs.
Inside, partitions stay well below the ceiling, and free-standing cabinets separate areas, allowing the cypress ceiling to continue uninterrupted. An interior glass clerestory affords the bedroom acoustical privacy while connecting it visually to the remainder of the house. With its wood clad chimney, a skylight gathers light for the Guest Bath. Anchoring its primal core, the home's thick board-formed concrete wall harbors both an interior and an exterior fireplace. Twelve- foot doors on the Screen Porch enhance the sense of scale and height in the space. The Porch captures the prevailing breezes, and the sounds of nature, creating seamless indoor-outdoor connections when desired.