Builder

BUILDERONLINE.COM BUILDER 43

W

hen the devil is in the details, it’s important to

get them right. Though its bones are that of a

contemporary ranch-style house, the Laurel-

wood Residence, designed by Austin, Texas,

firm Alterstudio as a spec home, incorporates the geometry,

consistency, and detail that lend it a distinctly midcentury

modern sensibility.

The firm, led by partners Ernesto Cragnolino, Kevin

Alter, and Tim Whitehill, crafted an L-shaped layout that

opens onto a central, private courtyard, pulling the outdoors

in. Carefully using every inch of the 4 , 136 -square-foot

structure as functional space, the design includes plenty of

pockets for conversation, entertaining, and lounging.

In contrast to open-plan, great room–style layouts that

feature direct paths between the front door and the rear

yard, this home is designed to encourage a procession

through a series of spaces enhanced by multiple sources of

light and views. Though the architects avoided using cor-

ridors to maximize the overall sense of space, the design

bears a planned sensibility that uses brick walls to create

distinct spaces without closing off any one room from

another. Living and family rooms and the master suite

open directly to the backyard, but the children’s bedrooms

are designed to be more private, featuring glimpses to the

outdoors through clerestory windows that capture views

of the trees and allow natural daylight to stream in.

MIDCENTURY

MODEST

Austin-based Alterstudio abandons the classic suburban

typology and embraces the art of simplicity

Right:

The central

courtyard is

sheltered by a

series of brick

walls and deep

roof overhangs.

DECEMBER 2016