The owners wanted sleek security without making their Austin, Texas, home look like a fortress. Robin Camp, project manager for crowell + builders, says the mix of materials enhances the hominess of the enclosure while interspersed see-through sections offer glimpses of the yard. A steel frame with overlapping anodized aluminum panels makes up the pedestrian gate that swings open into a spacious front yard. “The gate turns, so you don’t directly face the house,” says Camp. “This lets you wander around before getting to the door.” Smooth slabs of Vermont blue slate adjoin the aluminum section that houses a mailbox and intercom. Custom aluminum bolt covers break up the slate’s monolithic expanse. Corner posts are made with Brazilian slate bricks set in a staggered pattern. Just inside the wall, a fountain splashes over both sides of one of these corner posts so outsiders also benefit from the playful water feature. Builder: crowell +, Austin, Texas; Architect: Dick Clark Architecture, Austin; Photographer: Paul Bardagjy.
