Despite its seemingly random appearance and slanted walls, the decisions behind the playful shape of this compact East Austin cottage are rooted in practical problem solving—just ask Nicole Blair, architect and founder of the local practice Studio 512.

“The Hive’s 320-square-foot footprint is the maximum allowed for a guesthouse by the city of Austin on this residential lot,” Nicole explains. “To gain enough volume to fit a one-bedroom dwelling, walls tilt from the slab—hugging building setback planes and an angled utility easement at the back of the property—to add volume where needed, evoking the shape of a beehive.”

As a result, the two-story structure—dubbed The Hive after its shape and an existing beehive on site—manages to nearly double the footprint allowance and offers 565 square feet of airy living space.

The sculptural home comprises an eat-in kitchen and living room on the main floor, as well as a bedroom and office on the second floor. The heights and widths of each room are carefully sized depending on use—a decision that Nicole based off of Leonaro da Vinci’s The Vitruvian Man, a 15th-century drawing symbolizing ideal scale and proportion in architecture and anatomy.

She cites examples of her strategy: “Kitchen walls lean out for increased counter space, [and] a large built-in desk with cantilevered bookshelf is nestled into a spot with low ceiling height and expanded view while seated at the desk. The shower is widest toward the center of the body up to the head, and a tall, narrow ceiling provides room for rising steam.”

“By carefully tailoring the space in three dimensions, rooms are cut down and expanded to suit the programme.”

Nicole also looked to Dutch and Japanese design for inspiration in dealing with spatial constraints, while using large windows and an abundance of natural light to give the interiors a roomy feel.

“Like a well-designed garment, a building may perform best when tailored to the shape and movement of its inhabitants.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Studio 512

Builder/ General Contractor: Studio 512

Structural Engineer: Structures PE

Landscape Design Company: D Crain

Cabinetry Design/ Installation: Wishtree Carpentry

Other: Drophouse

Other: Delta Millworks