Therefore, when he spotted a Tuscan-style house straddling a bluff 100 feet above Austin’s Town Lake and river, he was taken not only with the unrivaled 180-degree view of the city skyline, but also with the idea of crafting a multifaceted home base that would accommodate his myriad passions. To expedite his vision, he turned to Dick Clark Architecture, a local firm noted for modernist residential designs that reflect the Texas Hill Country’s unique regional heritage.

 

 

Instead of one house, Dick Clark and his team devised a 10,000-square-foot compound comprising several buildings, including a Main House, a so-called Cliff House (for its location partway down the bluff), a Guest House, private quarters for two sets of children, a pool (and cabana), and garage.

 

A monochromatic color scheme pairs with seamlessly matched
veneers on cabinets and walls to visually expand the space.
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood interior spaces with light
and draw expansive views indoors.

For this family of seven, the 18- by 22-foot kitchen in the Main House had to be more than just a workstation for two parents who both love to cook; it also had to accommodate frequent social gatherings. Entertaining is something Hawkins and his wife take seriously; they often host small dinners as well as large-scale benefits and galas on behalf of their political party.

Formal affairs make use of an adjoining dining room, while informal get-togethers often fan out into the living and family rooms, and onto the expansive pool terrace, which steps down to the rooftop of the Cliff House. A wet bar next to the kitchen shares space with the laundry, a boon for expediting clean-up after parties; a walk-in wine cellar is also located close to hand.

 

 

Dick Clark believes “collaboration is crucial to creating a kitchen that functions well.” For the Hawkins job, he chose German manufacturer Bulthaup for the cabinetry. Clark consulted with Bulthaup’s L.A. showroom to determine what components were needed and where the various custom-crafted cabinetry (plus backsplash and vent hood) would be situated.

Some weeks later, dozens of boxes arrived on site—as did two Bulthaup installers. “The two Bulthaup guys lived in the house for three weeks, assembling and installing every piece,” Clark says. “There must have been over 10,000 screws for this job!”

 

The bathroom

The focal point of the set-up is a giant stainless-steel cooking/food prep unit, which is elevated on sturdy steel legs and backed by a stainless backsplash. It rallies six burners and a grill/griddle, two ovens, plus a sink. The matching hood supplies additional open shelving; the backsplash supports a rail for hanging spice racks and utensils. Two large storage pantries stand at either end of the cooking unit, while two narrow cabinets flank the Sub-Zero refrigerator that stands between doors to the dining room.

 

 

A second focal point is the 4- by 8-foot island that doubles as an eating counter. It houses a second sink and dishwasher drawers, and lots more storage. Soft, ambient light washes the ceiling from behind the baffle, while high hats supply task lighting. The surface materials selected by the architects in concert with Balthaup serve to underscore and offset the elegant geometries of the space. The vertical grain of the larch (a German fir) veneers sheathing the walls was end-matched, piece by piece, for a smooth visual flow so that it would match the cabinets without visual interruption. The ceiling was painted a subtle shade of ocher, while the floor tiles impart a rosy glow underfoot.

All in all: This was a big job yielding big results - and a perfect example of a form-follows-function modernism that is warm and inviting, and big-hearted, too.