This project began with two families purchasing a large Central Austin property and subdividing it into two narrow lots to build new homes on - Murray Legge Architecture was hired to design one of the homes.

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

ArchitectMurray Legge Architecture
Location: Austin, Australia
Year: 2018
Project size: 2,000 ft2
Photography: Leonid Furmansky

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

From the architect: The clients, a young creative couple with two small children, wanted a modest house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and ample living spaces with strong connections to private outdoor rooms.

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

The site is in a bustling neighborhood, near a major university, so the house was set on the site to create a private side-yard the family could use as an extension of the main living space. A wall in front of the house creates a private courtyard off of the front rooms and protects them from view. Meanwhile a tectonic screen porch sits in the backyard, in contrast with the solid mass of the house in front.

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

The house is a mass that is carved - creating deep, shaded, openings that connect to the outside. The entire building is rendered in natural grey stucco, producing a solid sculptural form. Shadows from the surrounding trees play across its surface throughout the day.

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

The ground floor plan is conceived as a series of open interconnected spaces arranged around a central stair and utility core. The spaces are divided by Douglas Fir cabinetry, with a continuous ceiling. The cabinets divide the space into various uses (kitchen, study, living, and TV room) while maintaining the feeling of a large open room. An internal light-well brings daylight into the center of the house and connects the two floors, creating a surprising vertical opening through the house.

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

The second floor contains all three bedrooms, connected by a "bridge" that overlooks the kitchen. Each bedroom has direct access to an exterior patio or deck. "Pop ups" on the roof bring in plentiful daylight from above and create compelling space in otherwise small rooms.

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

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David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

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David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

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David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

David Street House by Murray Legge Architecture

This project began with two families purchasing a large Central Austin property and subdividing it into two narrow lots to build new homes on...

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