This contemporary dwelling in Austin, Texas, is arranged around a towering Durand Oak tree, and looks out across a steep escarpment.

South 5th Residence was designed by Alterstudio and was one of just 11 buildings to scoop a 2018 AIA Housing Award. Juror Roberto de Leon described it as ‘an experiential project’, thanks to its rhythmic sequence of spaces – both large and small – and its relationship to its site.

The Texas property slips discreetly into Austin’s Bouldin neighbourhood, hidden behind a four-inch gabion wall. Visitors enter into a courtyard, with the tree at its heart. A glass living room hovers above the lush escarpment.

Materials including concrete, steel, and stucco are offset with detailed millwork and glass, providing contrasting textures throughout the three-bedroom home – on the market for $1.895m via Moreland Properties.

A second living area downstairs provides a secluded sanctuary, gazing onto the tree canopy and the landscape below.

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