GLUCK+

View of building red volume floating above glass lower floor with trees in foreground.
View at dusk of building clad in windows, screens, red and grey panels over brightly lit spaces surrounded by vegetation.
Night view looking across sloped lawn to pool and city lights in far distance.
View looking through glass to a couple sitting in living area.
Woman in pool in foreground looking toward the exterior of the building clad in red panels, screens and glass.
View at dusk looking down sloped lawn into lower floor with the glass and red volume on top.
View of lower floor office with direct connection to person swimming in pool through window.
View from lower floor of steel staircase highlighting the steel rod connection to the stair treads.
View across steel staircase from ground floor with views to lower, ground and upper floor.
Interior view of living area and sculptural stair surrounded by glass exterior.

Floating Box House

Lift the house to frame the view

Austin, TX

Standing amid a grove of two hundred landmarked live oaks, Floating Box House hovers over the site and frames the urban skyline of Austin in the distance. To maintain the character of the surrounding landscape, significant portions of the house are built below grade.

Houses 14,000 sf Completed in 2005 Architect-Led Design Build

Stories

A surgical excavation

To protect the roots of dozens of landmarked live oaks, the team executed an almost surgical excavation of 7,000 yards of rock.
A surgical excavation

Floating the box

The bulk of the house is reduced by partially burying it below grade, but its "floating box" effect is a different story.
Floating the box

The stair as sculpture

Creativity is needed when departing from conventional construction: this central staircase is the perfect example.
The stair as sculpture

Press & Recognition

2006

Award of Excellence

American Institute of Architects New York State

2006

Honor Award

Boston Society of Architects

2006

Design Award

Texas Society of Architects

2009

Design Award of Excellence

Society of American Registered Architects

Photographs

View of building red volume floating above glass lower floor with trees in foreground.
Woman in pool in foreground looking toward the exterior of the building clad in red panels, screens and glass.
Red building volume stacked on grey volume and glass first floor with views to interior, framed by tree canopy.
Floor to ceiling glass on first floor with views of interior and red building volume on top.
View at dusk looking down sloped lawn into lower floor with the glass and red volume on top.
View at dusk looking across sloped lawn into the brightly lit building shadows by different façade conditions on each floor.
View at dusk of building clad in windows, screens, red and grey panels over brightly lit spaces surrounded by vegetation.
View at night looking along sloped lawn towards the exterior pool.
View looking at shifting grey and red volumes above lower floor.
View across ramp to the below ground garage with grey, glass and red volumes arrayed on top.
View down the ramp to the below ground garage highlighting the red massing framed by surrounding tree canopy.
View of building's exterior with visual connection to the surrounding landscape through the lower floor glass.
Close up view of two shifting volumes clad in grey and red panels respectively.
Driveway to building surrounded by dense tree canopy and fog.
Night view looking across sloped lawn to pool and city lights in far distance.
Interior view of living area and sculptural stair surrounded by glass exterior.
View looking through glass into kitchen and dining area with views of pool and city in far distance.
View looking through glass to a couple sitting in living area.
Interior view of living area framed by vegetation visible through floor to ceiling glass.
View down looking down all building floors along steel staircase framed by railing and vertical metal rods.
View of staircase, the stair treads held by a solid steel railing and thin vertical steel rods.
View from lower floor of steel staircase ascending to upper floor.
View from lower floor of steel staircase highlighting the steel rod connection to the stair treads.
View across steel staircase from ground floor with views to lower, ground and upper floor.
View of lower floor office with direct connection to person swimming in pool through window.
View of bathroom with glass shower, sunken tub and wood window framing to trees in background.
View of desk surrounded by white ceiling, walls and floor with wood framed windows to vegetation in background.
Interior of bedroom that opens to balcony.
Bathroom floating wooden sink with wooden windows and door to balcony in background.
View door corridor lined by wooden cabinets and closets.
View through glass shower to balcony and trees in background.

Drawings

Site plan of building on site with connection to driveway.
Lower floor plan including bedroom, pool above, prep kitchen, entry, gallery, media, sauna, office and garage.
First floor plan including living, kitchen, dining, sunken courtyard and pool.
Second floor plan including master bedroom, terrace, bedroom, play area and sitting area.
Section through all three levels, showcasing the sculptural staircase and pool.
Section showcasing the changes in topography around the lower floors.
Elevation of building showing façade details of lower floor and floating box condition of upper floor.
Type
Houses
Size
14,000 sf
Year
2005
Scope
Ground Up
Role
Architect-Led Design Build
LocationLoc.
Suburban
Floating Box House
Floating Box House