north arrow studio builds corrugated sheet metal 'birdhouse' in austin

a tiny house in austin

Birdhouse is a newly built house located in the Chestnut neighborhood of East Austin, designed by North Arrow Studio. The house was designed for the client, who requested an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that feels like a typical house and works with the three large pecan trees on the site. The Chestnut neighborhood is in a state of transition, with new construction ADUs being built alongside modest older homes.

images © Chase Daniel | @thevuvobandit

the design by north arrow studio

The Birdhouse is strategically placed on a small lot with an existing primary residence, tiptoeing around the pecan trees and opening to a private courtyard that focuses on one of the trees. The architects at North Arrow Studio were guided by a tight budget and restrained allowable footprint, resulting in a compact home that makes the most of its limited space. Despite its small size of nine hundred square feet, the home feels spacious thanks to the manipulation of spaces by vaulting rooms, exaggerating ceiling heights, and maximizing space by taking advantage of the attic’s lower ceilings.

living inside a ‘birdhouse’

The exterior North Arrow Studio’s Birdhouse features a corrugated steel material that adds texture to the design. A unique circular pivot window is the centerpiece of the house and is reminiscent of the round opening in a birdhouse. The simple form of the house, with its single exterior material, reflects the client’s vision for a home grounded in its site and built with simplicity in mind.

Birdhouse is a thoughtfully designed home that takes advantage of its limited space and incorporates the natural elements of the site. Its simplicity and functionality make it a perfect fit for the Chestnut neighborhood, which is in a state of transition with new construction ADUs being built alongside older homes.

the accessory dwelling unit takes shape with a simple materiality