‘the texas cantilever’ by universal joint, austin, texas image © patrick y. wong
‘the texas cantilever’ by american firm universal joint (jonathan chertok) is a residence for the alumnus of the university of texas school of architecture, located in austin, texas. the compact interior is 2400 square feet of conditioned space with 800 square feet of covered outdoor area located on the ground floor with master bedroom porch measuring 200 square foot and two second floor roof decks. the green construction of the structure is formally singular and cost-efficient which is a gentle addition to the neighborhood with street-level planning and massing. a steel frame forms the skeleton of both volumes with regularly spaced light-guage studs, wrapped in metal and wood siding. slender columns help support the protruding floating mass that shelters a parking area, seating area, and a computer-designed mathematically rooted metal sculpture dubbed the ‘iron turtle’ which contrasts the orthogonal nature of its host edifice.
the project incorporates 3d computer technologies to design, post-rationalize, document and construct the sculptural ‘iron turtle’. the documentation for this portion of the planning was executed over the course of two evenings – while the main residence was under construction by the design-builder. the steel tent demonstrates the immediacy possible in the conversion of a digital idea into an artifact. it is an early example of the design-build firm’s ongoing research into form generation and form modernization for architectural scale constructions.
cantilever defines a covered exterior space underneath image © atelier wong
view towards the street image © patrick y. wong
iron turtle detail
living space image © patrick y. wong
kitchen image © atelier wong
living room image © atelier wong
stairwell image © atelier wong
south roof deck image © patrick y. wong
north-facing roof deck image © atelier wong
upstairs living room image © atelier wong
image © atelier wong
master bedroom image © patrick y. wong
master bedroom detail image © patrick y. wong
master porch image © patrick y. wong
railing detail
primary steel structure
computer modeling of the iron turtle sculpture
modeling of iron turtle
construction of the iron turtle
floor plan / level 1
elevation
elevation
sketch model
project info:
location: brentwood neighborhood austin, texas designer: universal joint builder: universal joint general contracting, llc program: single family residence. square feet: 2400 interior, 100 covered exterior. 800 roof decks. photography: atelier wong civil engineers: prossner and associates surveyors: holt carson structural consultants: loc testing: mla labs sub-contractors: modal contracting [metal framing] k & m ironworks [structural steel] accent plumbing [plumbing] austin air conditioning [mechanical] russell jones [electrical] diversified thermal [polyisocanurate insulation] lighthouse solar [solar power fit out]
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here
Dec 08, 2025
Dec 07, 2025
Dec 06, 2025