austin studio black rabbit completes ‘friar tuck residence’ to promote healthy living

austin-based black rabbit renovates a mid-century home to create this 'friar tuck residence,' a dwelling as beautiful as it is sustainable.

kat barandy August 28, 2024 3 min

black rabbit renovates a mid-century modern home

Tucked away among a residential neighborhood of Austin, Texas, the newly completed Friar Tuck Residence is a stunning reimagined mid-century home that’s as beautiful as it is sustainable. Designed and built by Black Rabbit and co-built by Newcastle Homes, this renovation demonstrates the power of thoughtful architecture and an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Spanning 2,294 square feet, the single-story residence is a masterclass in natural light and indoor-outdoor living. A sun-drenched courtyard, enclosed by a Texas limestone privacy wall, creates a private retreat. The home’s design is not just about aesthetics — it’s also about creating a healthy, natural environment.

friar tuck black rabbit — images © Leonid Furmansky

natural living inside the friar tuck residence

Inside the Friar Tuck Residence, visitors will find a peaceful atmosphere curated by the design-build team at Black Rabbit to be free from artificial dyes, paints, and stains. The use of traditional materials and techniques gives the home an atmosphere that is timeless, while maintaining a contemporary feel. A glass volume connects the front courtyard — with its wild garden by landscape studio Native Son Gardens — to the rear pool, deck, and guesthouse, making it an ideal environment to relax outdoors.

The Friar Tuck Residence is at once a contemporary dwelling and a statement about sustainable living. As the team says, ‘In this reimagined mid-century home, we’ve embraced sustainability through authentic living design principles. By preserving the original single-story form and using passive solar techniques, we’ve created a sunlit courtyard. Our focus on old-world natural materials and processes has resulted in a healthy interior environment, free from artificial additives. This home is a testament to the beauty and simplicity of living in harmony with nature.‘