Westbrook Residence proposes an alternative architectural model for the expanding post-war suburb of Austin, Texas. It caters to the changing demographics of this once gentlest neighborhood without losing its low-rise character. By adopting a low building-to-garden ratio, the Residence is positioned so that its residents live in nature, integrated with the varied gardens that surround the building.

Four masonry volumes coalesce around a central living area, that in turn opens onto the adjacent landscapes. Public spaces are defined as the area in-between, with floor-to-ceiling, site-glazed windows, and under a continuous ceiling, while the masonry volumes are delineated in limestone bricks and steel openings—creating a sense of intimacy. Above and enclosing the in-between space is another volume, clad in steel; light chimneys cut into this volume activate the space, providing an unexpected source of light and view. 

Additionally, the residence is composed of two contrasting ways in which interior rooms are delineated. The masonry volumes define intimate, enclosed rooms, distinct from their adjacencies, while simultaneously defining a dynamic, free-flowing public space in-between that connects directly to the out-of-doors. As a consequence, the family lives here moving between a pre-modern and modern world, settling into a particular space as the appropriate mood takes hold.

The distribution of program into a reasonable-sized home on one floor invites this family to age in place, surrounded by nature and in close proximity to neighbors as well as the amenities of the city of Austin.  While the value of this neighborhood will continue to rise and new houses replace existing ones, the hope is that the home might provide a model for future development; where garden is more present than building, and inhabitants are able to live immersed in nature as well as adjacent to neighbors.