Architecture and Interior Design: Alterstudio Architecture
Area: 3,606 ft²
Year: 2017
Photographs: Casey Dunn
Architect in Charge: Kevin Alter, Ernesto Cragnolino, Tim Whitehill, Joseph Boyle, Michael Woodland, Sara Mays
Structural Engineer: Scott Williamson, PE
Mechanical Engineer: Positive Energy
Landscape: BDW Landworks and Construction
Pool: Jay Scallon Pools
Contractor: Chris Hill, Mark Paulsen
City: Austin, Texas
Country: United States
Constant Springs Residence, designed by Alterstudio Architecture in Austin, Texas, is a 2017 residential project that merges urban living with a private natural retreat. The design takes advantage of an escarpment and creek at the rear of the property, using an H-shaped roof to organize spaces and extend covered areas. A custom-glazed window wall with monolithic corner glazing strengthens the connection between indoor and outdoor environments. A preserved live oak tree influences the design, with openings in the cedar ceiling and ipe decking accommodating natural elements. The material palette, including terrazzo flooring, Leuders limestone, and Calacatta Lincoln marble, enhances the spatial experience. Built by the owner as his first general contracting project, the house highlights a balance of craftsmanship, natural integration, and architectural precision.
The design of Constant Springs Residence responds to the rare opportunity to inhabit both an urban setting and a private natural retreat. Within a conventional neighborhood, the house is strategically positioned to maximize the site’s dramatic escarpment, creek, and natural views. An H-shaped roof serves as a defining architectural element, creating distinct living zones while extending the sheltered space to 6,900 square feet. Custom-glazed window walls, punctuated by monolithic corner glazing, strengthen the visual and spatial connection to the outdoors. The home is arranged between a landscaped front courtyard and a sweeping natural expanse at the rear, reinforcing its dual relationship with built and organic environments.
Consideration of and inspiration from the environment is ubiquitous in all our work. It is both the foundation and the delight, relied upon and framed.
Interview with Kevin Alter of Alterstudio Architecture
A prominent live oak tree, notable for its unusually tall trunk, played a crucial role in shaping the design. The western red cedar ceiling was adapted to allow the tree to pass through, while an ipe deck below accommodates natural water flow. Another opening in the ceiling invites daylight and rain into the house’s core, creating a dynamic interplay of light and atmosphere throughout the day. The design fosters a continuous spatial experience, framing shifting reflections and natural patterns.
The material palette is carefully curated to enhance the residence’s refined yet natural aesthetic. A continuous straight-grain cedar ceiling and vertical siding contrast with white terrazzo flooring, grey Leuders limestone, and a custom steel-and-white oak entry door. Particular attention was given to the kitchen, where a Calacatta Lincoln marble countertop cascades over an end-grain white oak base, paired with a large acid-etched mirror backsplash that subtly amplifies light and depth. Constructed as the owner’s first project as a general contractor, the residence demonstrates meticulous craftsmanship and attention to architectural detail. By seamlessly integrating natural elements and precise material choices, the design achieves a balance between spatial clarity, technical execution, and the surrounding landscape.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Austin, Texas, United States
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
