Old House Does From Dark To Bright And Stylish With Great Views
This is a house that was originally built in the 1980s. Back then architects didn’t really put much emphasis on the surroundings, landscape and nature in general. As a result, even though the house has large, floor-to-ceiling windows, it didn’t look or feel bright and didn’t really offer great views.
But that changed when MRA (Miro Rivera Architects) renovated the place in 2013. They’re an internationally-renowned studio known for projects that turn architecture into art and beautiful, poetic designs that enrich their surroundings. They managed to transform this dark and outdated house into a modern and sophisticated home worthy of its surroundings.
The residence is located in Austin, Texas and its renovation was completed in 2013. It’s a spacious home that sits on an area measuring 8070 square feet. The brief was to transform it from a dark and impersonal space into a stylish and bright home.
The renovation focused on taking better advantage of the location and the views in particular. After redesigning and restructuring the property, the house now offers 180 degree views of Lake Austin and the hills in the distance.
To make that possible, the architects had to reconfigure some of the spaces and features. For example, what was originally a large driveway and garage zone became an open courtyard with sloped terraces. This way the site is greener and more focused on nature and landscape, with en emphasis on the existing oak trees.
The pavement on the driveway was replaced in grass and river rocks and the courtyard was designed in a symmetrical way that highlights the entryway. An aluminum overhang shades the front door and accentuates this whole area.
The residence has an interesting V-shaped layout and thanks to the new design a more functional configuration as well. The interior was reorganized in order to make the previously fragmented space a more practical and well-structured one.
Some of the features had to be relocated. The fireplace, for instance, doubles now as a divider between the lounge area and the dining space. The living room was previously completely opened to the view and the fireplace now gradually reveals the landscape when transitioning between the spaces.
The living area occupies the center of the house, being connected to the dining area, kitchen, breakfast area and the home office. The spaces capture the views of the lake and hillside, featuring picture windows and connections to a terrace that wraps around them.
Cherry wood floors are a defining characteristic of all the interior spaces, linking them and establishing a warm, elegant and sophisticated décor and ambiance throughout. They are combined with metallic accents and lots of glass for a modern appearance.
The new design of the house maximizes and emphasizes the connection between the interior and exterior spaces as well as between the house and its surroundings and views. The existing terrace was preserved and used as a transitional space.
The infinity edge pool is a gorgeous feature. It captures the mesmerizing beauty of the landscape and makes the most of the location and views.
