furman + keil architects extends austin home with elevated 'roost' for birdwatching
Briefly

Roost by Furman + Keil Architects is a 928-square-foot timber structure integrated into Austin's landscape, hidden beneath a tree canopy. The home, accessible via a winding descent, minimizes ground disturbance by being elevated on steel piers, providing a connection to the wetland ecology. Designed to handle flooding and environmental changes, Roost offers unique perspectives on the surrounding nature while providing functional spaces for wildlife engagement and seasonal living. Its design reflects resilience and adaptability, showcasing a commitment to preserving the landscape's delicate balance.
Roost is shaped by a desire for permanence within a fluctuating landscape, creating a resilient envelope that can withstand rising water while remaining attuned to its setting.
The descent to Roost through a limestone grotto into wetlands creates a sense of arrival, feeling more like a passage into a hidden world.
Elevating the project minimized ground disturbance and preserved the fragile ecology below, while offering new sightlines across the water's edge.
A screened porch invites long afternoons of birdwatching, while the shaded space beneath serves as a launch for boats and a quiet zone for engaging with the shoreline.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
[
|
]