Larry Speck

Positioned on a high ridge with commanding views of a lake, mature live oaks and the rounded peak of Chalk Mountain, Rough Creek Lodge is the focus of an 11,000-acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country. The buildings sit long and low, hugging the contours of the hill and nestling into existing trees to form a continuous mass of natural and manmade forms that rim the brow of the promontory. Public…

Poor soil conditions on a spectacular site required a heroic foundation with few drilled piers and deep foundation beams.  This, combined with the steep slope, gorgeous views, and abundant existing trees, dictated a long, thin rectangular footprint and a simple concrete volume to span between the piers.  All of the major rooms, which look out to the trees or above them to downtown Austin, are…

Umlauf Sculpture Garden features the work of American sculptor Charles Umlauf in a naturally landscaped garden at the edge of Zilker Park.  Larry Speck designed the museum and visitors center, which contribute to a beloved, public gathering space in the heart of Austin.  The building expression is quiet and understated.  A long, thin, stone structure houses visitor support functions, creating a…

The House on Sunny Slope is designed for informal family living, commissioned by a single father with two young sons.  The primary yard is placed in the front, surrounded by a wall, to maximize private outdoor space on a small lot.  The carport doubles as an outdoor game room/entertainment space, strongly oriented to the yard.  Inside, a dominant room with 18-inch exposed stone walls houses…

The Wimberley Ranch House is positioned atop a bluff above the Blanco River on a large cattle and horse ranch. In the tradition of Texas ranch buildings, the design is an aggregation of individual elements that are freely adapted to their function and location. Independent forms are loosely collected around an existing, bowl-shaped draw, which directs views up and down the river and to the…

The Lake Travis House is perched on a 100-foot bluff with extraordinary views to the southwest, west and north. The home's west side takes the form of a sweeping arc, acknowledging the panorama; wall shapes and windows are oriented to match specific vistas. The home's design responds to specific functional preferences for the family of four. On the lower floor, playroom, living room, dining…

The Burnet Ranch House rests on the dominant ridge of a small cattle and goat ranch in Central Texas. The clients, a family of four who live on the ranch full-time, required typical house functions as well a special acknowledgment of their rural lifestyle. Consistent with regional traditions, the home is broken into five small building elements, aggregated in response to site and function.…

When it was completed in 1984, the Town Lake Comprehensive Plan was the largest planning project ever undertaken by the City of Austin. Its purpose was to consolidate park lands and useful recreation space through selective land acquisitions, thereby creating an active new “living room” for the heart of the city. The plan also located future civic functions and performance venues and outlined…