MIRÓ RIVERA ARCHITECTS
AU S T I N
30.2672° N 97.7431° W
RESIDENCE 1446 Situated in a low-lying field adjacent to both a lake and a quiet lagoon, Residence 1446 was the final element of a 10-year master plan, which includes a guesthouse, pedestrian bridge, pool and boathouse. To contrast with the verticality of the three-story guesthouse, the one-level home is horizontally defined, creating a sensitive response to the serene wetland surroundings. The design aims to create architectural interventions that both respect and enhance the unique site. Thick limestone walls define the east-west axis, which guides occupants from the entry courtyard, through the house, and to expansive views of the site, lake and hills beyond. Long, horizontal apertures and dramatically angled rooftops provide sweeping panoramas, while deeply recessed overhangs offer shade and privacy to the family setting, providing a modern take on the American porch. The architecture frames the landscape through transparent glass walls, while clerestory windows flood the space with natural light.
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The materials further reflect this connection to the landscape. Rough hewn, locally sourced limestone travels through the house from interior to exterior, reinforcing the natural connection to the site and striking a balance with the home’s modern aesthetic.
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P ROJE CT SP E CI F I CAT I O NS Area: 7075 ft2 (657m2) Completed: 2009 Photography: ©Paul Finkel | Piston Design
FLOOR PLAN
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20ft
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MIRÓ RIVERA ARCHITECTS
DA L L A S
32.7767° N 96.7970° W
VERTICAL HOUSE Located on one of the few lots in Dallas elevated enough to enjoy a view of the downtown skyline, the five-story Vertical House rises dramatically above the treetops to capture views of the surrounding gardens and the skyline beyond. Characterized by clean lines, sheer glass walls and sculptural sunshades, this sharply detailed home offers an intriguing counterpoint to the ambiance of its forestlike setting. At the lowest level, two 60-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) exterior screen walls surge upward on both sides of the house, providing primary structural support as well as shade and privacy to spaces within. The first floor of the residence—containing a carport and storage— is partially burrowed into the site and accessed via a spiralling driveway carved into the limestone bedrock. The main entrance to the house is located on the second floor (at natural grade) is accessed via an exposed steel footbridge with glass handrails.
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Moving vertically through the house from the entrance, every major space is immediately accessible from the glassenclosed stairwell. Views outward become ever more impressive as the ground below falls away, and a palpable sense of suspension takes hold. The third floor hosts the master suite, while on the fourth floor the living room seems to hang in mid-air—a sensation reinforced by a hovering steel fireplace. The subdued material palette throughout the interior consists of white walls and polished concrete floors, with a continuous accent wall of bookmatched carrara marble, which runs the height of the stairs, connecting all the floors.
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GROUND-FLOOR PLAN
The progression terminates at an inviting open-air roof terrace, which offers breathtaking 360-degree views. A mechanical skylight provides access from inside and the terrace is shaded from the afternoon sun by an extension of the screen wall, which turns 90Â degrees to form an airy pergola.
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FIRST-FLOOR PLAN
SECOND-FLOOR PLAN
P ROJECT SPEC IFIC ATIONS Area: 8000 ft2 (743m2) Completed: 2013 Photography: Paul Finkel, Mirรณ Rivera Architects
THIRD-FLOOR PLAN
ROOF FLOOR PLAN
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16ft
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