Turtle Creek House

Description

This house, built for enthusiastic bird watchers, is along a prehistoric trail that follows the Austin limestone formation in a landscape where woodlands, prairie, and stream overlap. Anchored limestone ledges were designed in the foreground to allude to geologic presence and ancient memories. These ledges also contain local plant life, encouraging birds to occupy this area.

Located where eastern and western bird habitats converge and along major north-south migratory flyways, the site becomes the vantage point for observation and for participation in an ever-changing pageant. As the house reaches out from its earthbound datum line, it opens into and explores the various levels of avian habitation, the water's edge, the under story, the canopy, and the sky. The central fissure, formalised as an entrance foyer, is the point of departure for access to the various observation vantage points and to the north and south wings.

The south wing is a realm for social gatherings and a private retreat. The north wing is the domain where everyday life unfolds and informal gatherings occur. A third zone of the house, the roofscape, engages the sky. From here walkways over the house, along the top of a rocky outcrop, survey bird habitats, arriving guests, and the Dallas skyline. Moving closer to the parapet, an intimate rooftop arena is revealed which is inwardly focused while also providing a shielded cover for outward viewing. The central steel "sky ramp" projects the entrance fissure into the canopy of trees and beyond to the sky.