Carved Cube House, West Austin Residence, Texas Residential Property, Architecture in USA
Carved Cube House in West Austin
Contemporary Home in Texas, USA ? design by Bercy Chen Studio Architects
28 Aug 2016
Carved Cube House, West Austin
Location: West Austin, Texas, USA
Design: Bercy Chen Studio, Architects
Carved Cube House

The Carved Cube House located in West Austin, is the result of a subtractive process. The original volume, a perfect cube of 38?×38?×38?, was deconstructed with subtle level changes, carefully placed windows, and outdoor terraces shaded by cantilevered louvers, which open up the space as one ascends towards the sky. Trellises recreate the original massing of the cube while shading the exterior space from the harsh Texas sun.
The home?s circulation occurs on a skewed axis following the relationship and orientation of the existing house below. The narrow three story entry axial canyon brings natural light deep into the heart of the house. Dramatic shadows cast on the interior canyon walls quietly revealing the passage of time. The skewed axis combined with the constant compression and release through the house creates a very dynamic space.

The house is situated on a steep hillside above a dry creek. Its formal genesis is threefold, with naturalistic, historic and programmatic forces shaping the house concurrently. In relation to its natural setting, the house resembles large limestone boulders often chanced upon in the hill country. Their natu...