Collins Residence

Westlake Hills, Texas - 3,200 square feet

Approximately a one acre heavily wooded site with good views to the Westlake hills and hollows; a significant site restraint was the City of Westlake Hills building ordinance which limited the building height to 28 feet. For a sloping lot this was a constraint that forced an unusual design with a flat roof to accommodate a 2 story structure that wanted to have height to take full advantage of the views.
The owner gave as a program requirement to the architect the charge that a single tree was not to be cut down and that the building, when finished, shall be completely invisible from the street.

The building needed to be camouflaged within its immediate microenvironment so as not to be visible from the street, so the architect chose to clad its building with weathered rough and smooth sawn cedar and a gray tile roof. Although rustic in its exterior appearance, the home is surprisingly modern and contemporary, filled with natural delighting thanks in part to its Smart Glass ridge type skylight.