Terra Residence

Terra Residence — a private estate shaped by lasting craft.

Project overview

The Hartwell Family Estate commissioned Nolta Studio to design a private villa that would serve as a multigenerational family home in the hills outside Austin. The client sought a residence that felt deeply rooted in its landscape — one that would age gracefully alongside the land it sits on, without sacrificing the comfort and refinement expected of a home.

Objective

To design a private villa that draws its character from the Texas terrain — spacious yet intimate, architecturally considered yet genuinely livable. The project was envisioned as a permanent family home: a place built not for impression, but for life across generations.

Scope

• Design a 41,200 sq ft private villa for a multigenerational family estate in Austin.

• Deliver full architecture, landscape design, and interior design services across the entire residential property.

• Create outdoor spaces — terraces, gardens, and approach sequences — that seamlessly integrate the building into its natural surroundings.

Design approach and execution

Concept and vision

Terra Residence takes its cues from the land itself. The building is low, grounded, and oriented to capture the sweep of the Texas hill country — long horizontal lines echo the plateau, while deep overhangs and shaded loggias mediate the intense southern light.

‍Design philosophy: A home as an extension of its landscape — patient, rooted, and built to endure. Designed to age gracefully alongside its natural surroundings. Its materials and forms were chosen for quiet longevity and harmony.

‍Key features: Load-bearing limestone walls, recessed copper detailing, cross-ventilated plan, and integrated landscape terracing. The material palette was chosen to age gracefully and respond naturally to the environment.

Execution

Phase 1: Site & family brief‍

An extended briefing process with the Hartwell family mapped how different generations would inhabit the house — informing room adjacencies, circulation, and the balance between communal and private space.

Phase 2: Architectural development‍

The plan was developed in close response to topography and solar orientation, stepping the building into the hillside to reduce excavation and anchor the structure to the ground.

Phase 3: Interior & landscape detailing‍

Interior spaces were finished in natural stone, hand-plastered walls, and reclaimed oak — materials chosen for their texture and the way they weather over time. The landscape was designed as a sequence of outdoor rooms that dissolve the boundary between building and terrain. Native planting and shaded pathways further reinforced the project’s connection to its surroundings. Together, these elements create an atmosphere that feels calm.

Phase 4: Construction & completion‍

Delivered in 2025 over 18 months, Terra Residence was completed with an uncommon level of craft and material consistency — the result of close collaboration between Nolta Studio, the client family, and a dedicated team of specialist contractors. Every detail was carefully refined to ensure a cohesive and enduring architectural outcome.

Results and reflection

Terra Residence is a house that earns its place in the landscape. The project deepens Nolta Studio's commitment to architecture that is site-specific, material-honest, and made for the long term — buildings that belong where they stand and improve with every passing year.