Falling Leaves - Bercy Fadel

Year
2022
Project
Falling Leaves
Type
Residential
Area
3,970 SF
Location
Austin, TX
Services
Design | Construction
About
Falling Leaves House occupies a ten-acre hillside in West Austin, where the design interprets the curved motion of oak leaves as a series of sculpted pavilion roofs. Three glass pavilions step down the limestone bluff, positioned to frame the surrounding forest, creek, and wildlife corridor. A carved cut in the slope forms the building pad and exposes the natural stone, echoing the grottos found along the creek below.
A winding drive leads to a vantage above the house, where the pavilions unfold beneath cascading hyperbolic-paraboloid roofs supported by exposed glulam rafters. Each pavilion has its own orientation and character: the living wing cantilevers into the treetops, the bedroom wing wraps a quiet circulation spine, and the pool house aligns its linear pool with the rapids below.
At the center, an outdoor courtyard forms the shared heart of the home, gathered around an existing limestone boulder. Here, the surrounding elements—stone, wind, water, and fire—come together in a single sheltered space, grounding the family within the landscape.

Modern glass and steel house cantilevered over rocky hillside surrounded by dense forest trees

Modern wood and steel pavilion with pool, fire pit, sunken seating area and deck amid lush forest

Modern pavilion with warm wood ceiling, steel beams, outdoor seating area and natural boulder

Glass-walled dining pavilion with wood ceiling, live-edge table, sculptural chandelier in forest

Person relaxing with headphones in modern chair by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking forest

Ground Level

Minimalist bedroom with dark ribbed headboard wall, wood ceiling, white walls, and long hallway

Modern cabin with wood ceiling, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, bedroom view, white dog resting

Dark minimalist bathroom with matte black walls gray vanity cabinets integrated sink and window

Bedroom with dark textured walls, wood ceiling, leather headboard, and floor-to-ceiling forest view

Modern black kitchen with wood ceiling, copper bar stools, floor-to-ceiling windows and forest views

Mid-century modern living room with wood ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, gray tufted sofa, shag

Modern pavilion with wood ceiling and steel frame beside glass-walled pool with family swimming

Work Performed by Bercy Chen Studio