Situated in a low-lying field adjacent to both a lake and a quiet lagoon, Residence 1446 was the final element of a ten-year master plan that includes a guest house, pedestrian bridge, pool, and boat-house. Arranged around a central courtyard and characterized by its distinctive, copper-clad roof profiles, this one-level home is defined by a horizontality that responds quietly and sensitively to its serene wetland surroundings.
Architects: Miró Rivera Architects
Status: Built
The design aims to respect and enhance the home’s unique site, while maintaining a balance between opening up to the landscape and maintaining the owners’ privacy.
Miró Rivera Architects (MRA) is an internationally recognized architecture practice that has quietly created a body of work that exemplifies design excellence, blurs art and architecture, and includes poetic and inspirational projects that enrich their landscapes.
The firm has garnered over 100 design awards, including the AR Emerging Architecture Award, the Texas Architecture Firm Award, ArchDaily’s list of the “World’s Best Architects”, and 37 local, state and national AIA Awards. Emerging as one of the leading new architectural voices in the nation, MRA has represented new architecture from the United States at exhibitions at the Museum of Architecture in Frankfurt and at the Aedes Gallery in Berlin. Their work has been extensively featured worldwide in numerous exhibitions and many prestigious publications, including Architectural Record, The Architectural Review, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, ArchDaily and the third volume of Phaidon’s 10 x 10 book series.
Miró Rivera Architects views each project as a unique undertaking. Each work results from carefulconsideration of the particular requirements of the client, site and program. Woven into Miró Rivera’sdiverse practice is a remarkable degree of craftsmanship, exacting proportions and a refined sense of materials and details which, though surely modern, demonstrate a respect for time-honored building traditions. A consistent emphasis on natural light, transparency, and clear architectural progressions build strong connections between interior and exterior. MRA’s designs bring clarity and restraint to a range of projects in which a very clear idea permeates the work, unifying and grounding it firmly in a sense of place.
The firm currently consists of 16 people, including three design principals, Juan Miró, FAIA, Miguel Rivera, FAIA, and Ken Jones, AIA. MRA offers a wide range of architectural services including: urban design; institutional, commercial, and residential architecture; and interior design.
MRA also maintains a commitment to sustainable building practices: its sustainable projects include the AISD Performing Arts Center (LEED Gold / 5 Stars, Austin Energy Green Building), LifeWorks (5 Stars, Austin Energy Green Building), Westridge Residence (5 Stars, Austin Energy Green Building), Milagro Springs Retreat (4 Stars, Austin Energy Green Building), and Spicewood Residence (3 Stars, Austin Energy Green Building).