Barcode House
Barcode House
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Residential
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The lot was considered unbuildable. The client couldn't afford us. We did it anyway. Read more
The Bouldin Creek House — known as the Barcode House for its distinctive white metal cladding with raised vertical strips of varying widths — sits on a lot that was previously considered unbuildable. Architect David Webber of Webber + Studio designed the structure around the existing live oak trees rather than clearing them, which meant the building had to earn its place in the canopy rather than impose on it. The result is a 1,700-square-foot modern home that feels found rather than placed.
The client is the owner of the IT company that has served both Cravotta Interiors and Webber + Studio for years. When he said he couldn't possibly afford either of them, neither designer wanted him to go anywhere else. They made it work. Budget constraints became design decisions: Baltic birch plywood walls coated in a clear glaze replace conventional sheetrock throughout. Poured concrete floors run underfoot. Materials were chosen for honest origin and thoughtful assembly, not for prestige.
Despite being concrete and glass, the house sounds warm. "Because of all the wood, such a pleasant acoustic material, it feels and sounds nice," Cravotta noted. The stark white exterior with its orange front door emerges from the live oak canopy as an unmistakable statement. Inside, the warmth surprises you.
The project gained international attention. Featured in Dezeen, Dwell, Modern Luxury Interiors, and Sharp Magazine. Architecture: Webber + Studio. Photography: Ryann Ford.
