PROJECT: CLIFFSIDE HOUSE
LOCATION: AUSTIN, TEXAS
CATEGORY: SINGLE FAMILY HOME
SIZE: APPROX. 3,800 SQ FT.
CONTRACTOR: CARY PAUL STUDIOS
PHOTOGRAPHY: HUNTER MITCHELL
STATUS: COMPLETED AND SOLD 2026
DESCRIPTION: A full remodel of an historic 1960’s midcentury modern home in Austin Texas, adding about 800 sf in the process.
The original sawtooth angles of the house were enhanced and grown. The floorplan is like a pinwheel spinning around the central kitchen, with it’s raised ceiling and periscope clerestory. Each room in the house is carefully composed with framed views to into the surrounding forest. Outdoor rooms area created all around the house, with deep overhangs and steel columns.
Image of the existing house prior to construction. Overgrown, neglected and in need of help. It was originally designed by Robert S. Harris in the early 1960’s. A young architect at the time, he practiced in Austin for only 4 years before moving to Oregon and then to California. In our research, we couldn’t find much of his work, only one other house in Oregon. Interestingly that home in Oregon shared some of the design themes found here. Lots of angles, sawtooth facade geometry and a pinwheel type of plan. He really made his career as a Landscape Architect and educator. He spent a long time as a faculty member at USC, founding the Graduate School of Landscape Architecture there. Nevertheless, we wanted to respect his original design and find ways to grow the house while maintaining it’s great relationship to the site.
The house is brought back to life, while maintaining the original lines of the architecture.
The site has incredible old-growth shade trees. The house feels hidden in the woods, and we wanted to maintain that feeling.
Original house - the trees were taking over
Original house condition
Concept Rendering. A dark green color was chosen to keep the house camouflaged in the woods.
Finished construction.
The original front door was kept and refinished.
The existing metal fireplace was restored, with a new tile hearth. We kept the original limestone block walls.
When you have a central kitchen, getting natural light in is very important. We raised the ceiling and added clerestory glass windows.
The kitchen is the interconnected hub of the house.
