At first glance, the Stealth House is nearly invisible. Located on a gravel alley behind a row of traditional homes in downtown Austin, this 1,100-square-foot residence reveals little from the outside—a low, rust-colored steel façade with no street-facing windows, offering no clue to its interior world. But step inside, and the experience is nothing short of revelatory.
Sunlight streams through floor-to-ceiling glass, illuminating two lush interior courtyards—one centered around an olive tree, the other serving as a tranquil aviary with bamboo. “We wanted to completely rethink what makes a home feel open and inviting,” says Scott Specht, architect and co-owner. “Most modern homes rely on glass to connect with the outside world, but what if you don’t want to be on display? What if you want light, nature, and space without sacrificing privacy?”
The Stealth House breaks from the contemporary trend of open-plan, glass-walled homes by turning inward—drawing inspiration from the Roman domus, Moroccan riad, Chinese siheyuan, and Japanese machiya, where daily life revolves around interior courtyards. “I don’t feel like this house is futuristic at all,” says Shiraz Bakshai, co-owner. “It’s a return to something older and more comfortable.”
In a dense, walkable neighborhood where views often mean staring into someone else’s home, this design offers a clear separation between public and private spaces. “This house feels connected, but only on our own terms,” Specht adds.
Powered by a rooftop photovoltaic array with battery backup and featuring a high-efficiency air-conditioning system and super-insulated envelope, the house is built to last 100 years or more. “Everything about this house is built to last,” Bakshai says. “There’s no waste, no unnecessary spaces—just the essentials, done really well.”
Ultimately, the Stealth House stands as a prototype for future urban living—a sanctuary that values security, peace, and control over one’s environment above all else. “People say it feels like a sanctuary,” Bakshai concludes. “That’s exactly what we wanted.”