Seeing the Light
An Eastside Gem Shines
Words by Christopher Ferguson, AIA Photos by Leonid Furmansky
A narrow lot featuring a protected pecan tree became an ideal canvas for architect, Jen Brannon, and client-contractor, Nathan Button, to realize a humble, spacious, and daylight-filled single-family home. A rich material palette of locally sourced finishes lends an air of permanence within a rapidly changing neighborhood.
Amidst the backdrop of a mature neighborhood pockmarked by all-too-many clumsy residential developments, it’s forgivable to initially overlook Jen Brannon’s East Third.
“The goal was to design a comfortable home for entertaining with a contemporary and youthful vibe,” Jen explains. The 2,300 square foot home became defined by its clean lines and modern aesthetic, but its sensitive siting and attention to detail yield a home that is exceptional for its poise and modesty, making it the unassuming stand-out of the block.
With a unique partnership between Jen and her client, Nathan (who happens to be a contractor specializing in high-end residential construction), the home’s interior and exterior spaces are shaped by the combination of a rugged, yet sophisticated, material palette and a masterful approach to daylighting. Unlike its new-construction neighbors, its volume shies away from maximizing the potential building envelope, instead favoring a restrained approach set back from the street and in-line with the original scale of the neighborhood.
Inside, the airy layout is derived from balancing three driving ideals: blurring the line between outside and inside, defining public and private spaces, and protecting a 19-inch diameter pecan tree, centrally located within the 5,440 square foot lot.
Interior layout
The home takes its first cues from the location of the lot’s proud pecan. By accommodating its substantial dripline, Jen creates an intimate and well-proportioned courtyard flanked by the main, two story residence and a generous, detached garage that Nathan plans to convert into an additional vacation rental suite. A small, hardscaped limestone patio, hot tub, and freshwater lap-pool sit adjacent to a shady seating area that enjoys dappled light filtering through the leaves above. Tall stalks of bamboo add an extra sense of privacy between the courtyard and the neighbors.
Jen aligned the main circulation of the home on a central axis that echoes the dimensions of the narrow lot, one that maintains a visual connection between the pecan tree and the front entry. Along this axis, a substantial limestone wall creates the boundary between public and private spaces, a gesture that Jen refers to as the home’s “spine.” Aligned with the entry, an informal game room spills into a lofty kitchen and living room centered on a robust steel fireplace hearth. Oversized, full height sliding glass doors connect the living room and courtyard, reinforcing the idea that the courtyard is another room in the home.
On the other side of the “spine” lies Nathan’s master bedroom and private bath, which each enjoys a degree of privacy without sacrificing the visual connection to the outdoors. Upstairs, Jen has arranged an array of bonus rooms that anticipate a growing family or simply more long-term rental options, including a second bedroom, half bath, a guest room featuring four built-in bunk beds, a living room, and a large, second outdoor patio overlooking the courtyard.
Following a budget
The project also benefited from early discussions of key details that could leverage Nathan’s fabrication expertise without blowing the budget. Notably, a dramatic, floating steel stair connects the two levels of the home, held off from the split-faced limestone walls grazed by daylight that spills into the foyer from generous north windows above.
In a moment when Austin’s residential development can often seem overwrought and indulgent, Jen and Nathan have achieved something special: a bright, sensitive, and inviting home imbued with the spirit of its creators.
With over 20 years’ experience designing spaces for commercial, institutional, and residential clients, Jen’s ability to shape light is a common thread throughout her work. Her humble demeanor has the ability to set her clients at ease, and the unique architect-
client relationship that formed through Jen and Nathan’s partnership benefited the project given Nathan’s contracting experience operating Button Custom Homes.
Contact:
(512) 633-2931
jen@jenbrannondesign.com
jenbrannondesign.com
@jenbrannondesign
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