Location: Austin, Texas

Design Team: Philip Keil, Jasmin Piesel, Gary Furman, Royal Petrie

Contractor: Risher + Martin Fine Homes

Structural Engineer: Statix Engineering

Landscape Design: Theresa Kwilosz, Pearl Gardens

Interior Design: Laura Roberts Design

Tucked between towering oak trees at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this home is designed as a retreat into nature. Warm brick, natural stone, and dark clay tiles form a timeless material palette, allowing the house to settle naturally into its surroundings. Skylights and expansive steel windows flood the interiors with soft, shifting light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere throughout the day. A brick gallery with thickened arched openings runs the length of the main level, serving as both a circulation spine and a passage through the landscape. The staircase ascends toward the upper level at one end, while the primary suite offers a secluded sanctuary at the other. By embracing the site’s natural beauty, this home balances permanence with openness, offering a place of quiet retreat while remaining deeply connected to the landscape

The clients for this project were intent on a home that prioritized human health and comfort. Their existing home on the property was not configured to support a healthy living environment or facilitate interaction with the outdoor areas on the site. They requested the team use “Healthy House” principles when designing the residence. Some of the strategies employed to achieve this goal include:

> whole house mechanical ventilation system to ensure clean indoor air

> well insulated thermal envelope & prioritization of thermal comfort indoors

> use of natural, local materials with minimal off-gassing and limited use of plastics

> exterior living spaces and a strong connection to the natural landscape

> balancing abundant natural daylight with shading to minimize glare & thermal discomfort

The proposed design envisions a home that is both elegant and site-specific in form and optimized for health and comfort in function.