RAMMED EARTH RESIDENCE    AUSTIN, TEXAS

The site is semi rural and somewhat perched, sloping down to the south.  The house is composed of two wings, public and private. The public wing is transparent and opens to long southerly views. This wing is also sited to capture prevailing breezes from the south, encouraging them to flow through the house. Steel trusses with broad overhangs fully shade this transparent wing most of the day.  The private wing steps down with the land and is more monolithic, with fewer and smaller windows, mindful of the harsh western sun it is exposed to.  The exterior walls are rammed earth and concrete, creating a cooling thermal anchor.