Modern Home Near Austin Showcases One Architect’s Vision

The city of West Lake Hills near Austin, Texas, is equated with luxurious homes, scenic surroundings and high quality of life. Lesser-known, perhaps, it’s also an occasional canvas for architectural expression.

Built in 2019 and designed by architect Michael Hsu, this modern masterpiece employs wood, stone, glass and metal. From the curb, it appears low-slung and grounded to the site despite excessively tall walls. The roofline rises so gently that the vertical height is tamed by the horizontal lines.

The approach to the front door evokes a study in cube art. Glass and a wall of stone flank one side of the floor-to-ceiling wooden front door. On the other side, glass gives way to wooden vertical slats and more glass. A metal roof supported by a long metal beam tops the entrance.

Inside, the ceiling height is no longer disguised, lending the great room an industrial loft vibe. Exposed concrete walls on the next level down underscore that feeling.

The overall ambiance, however, is one of refined living. White oak wide-plank floors stretch from the living area, beyond the stairwell to the open-plan kitchen. Expanses of glass capture downtown, Hill Country and wooded views.

The stairwell is outlined by slender steel railings that reach the ceiling, making it appear as though hung from the ceiling. The barrier between living spaces is created without solid walls. Blue cabinetry along the kitchen island base and upper cabinets brings the eye into the sleek, modern space. There’s a long banquette as well as bar seating―both looking out to a courtyard. Windows wrap a corner of the formal dining room.

To one side of the swimming pool and spa is a covered, open-sided outdoor dining area that can seat up to a dozen as well as a fire pit. A baja shelf extends off the spa.

The versatile courtyard includes built-in seating and a movie screen. A one-bedroom, one-bathroom casita sits nearby for a total of six bedrooms, six full bathrooms and a powder room within more than 6,000 square feet of living space.

There are two offices, a climate-controlled wine room and a three-car garage.

The roomy 1.6-acre lot filled with mature trees enhances the home’s privacy.

Clayton Bullock of Moreland Properties is the listing agent for 705 Las Lomas Dr. The asking price is US $8.95 million.

The property is about a 5-minute drive from downtown Austin.