SWITCHBACK HOUSE

Switchback House is a striking modern architecture project completed in 2024 in the Dawson neighborhood of Austin. Designed by MF Architecture with interiors by the same studio and beautifully photographed by Leonid Furmansky, the home showcases a sculptural form that is minimalist on the exterior yet deeply dynamic inside.

The design features a flowing openness through the core stairwell, where a large skylight reveals a “switchback” roof form inspired by mountain trail switchbacks, ascending up to the second-story ceiling and bathing the staircase in natural light. The house negotiates steep site topography and integrates retaining walls and exterior terraces into its volumetric composition, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.

A focal feature of the design is a preserved live oak tree that arches over the backyard and is visually integrated into the house, bringing branches, light, and wind into daily living spaces, enriching the home’s connection to nature.