Architect Scott Specht has completed a striking accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Austin, Texas, that challenges conventional residential design by featuring no exterior windows and being entirely clad in weathered corten steel. The innovative 1,300-square-foot home, known as the Stealth House, sits on a compact 3,500-square-foot portion of a narrow mid-block lot and represents a bold reimagining of urban living.
Designed by Specht Novak, the single-story structure maximizes the buildable area allowed for ADUs when it was completed in 2024. The house is accessed through a gravel alley and draws inspiration from ancient architectural traditions, specifically Roman domus and Moroccan riads, which featured inward-facing designs centered around courtyards. Since the property offered no significant exterior views, Specht chose to orient the home entirely inward, creating a sanctuary that prioritizes privacy and natural light.
"By turning inward, we are not only able to reclaim underused urban lots but also create a sanctuary where natural light, landscape and self-sufficiency coexist in harmony," Specht explained. The architect, who also serves as the homeowner, emphasized how this approach addresses contemporary needs for privacy, security, and sustainability in dense urban environments.
The home's design revolves around two interior courtyards carved out of the corrugated corten steel box. The larger primary courtyard serves as the focal point for the kitchen and living areas, while a slimmer secondary courtyard runs along the back wall. These private outdoor spaces bring abundant natural light into the interior while making the home feel significantly larger than its actual footprint.
"Eliminating perimeter windows was a deliberate move to redefine how a home interacts with its surroundings," Specht noted. "This inward focus not only guarantees complete privacy and acoustic separation but also concentrates design energy on crafting those courtyards as vibrant living rooms under the sky." He described how this approach creates a "dynamic ebb and flow" between enclosed and open spaces that traditional windowed facades cannot achieve.
The entrance, characterized by a green tile mosaic set under a thin-profile metal awning, leads visitors into the main living spaces oriented toward the primary courtyard. At the heart of this space, an olive tree creates dappled shadows and serves as a natural centerpiece. The interior design features a carefully curated palette of materials including Bisazza glass tile, wood fiber wall coverings, and knotty oak flooring that complements the leafy plantings and warm glow from the corten steel visible across the courtyards.
Every room in the home, including two bedrooms and two bathrooms positioned at opposite corners, opens to the courtyards through frameless glass walls. This design strategy ensures that all spaces receive natural light and ventilation despite the lack of exterior windows. The use of off-the-shelf materials helps keep costs manageable while creating a sense of rootedness and authenticity throughout the space.
The Stealth House incorporates both passive and active sustainability strategies to minimize its environmental impact. The windowless envelope eliminates unwanted heat transfer, while the courtyards provide essential daylighting and natural ventilation. A rooftop photovoltaic array with battery backup supplies 84 percent of the home's annual electricity demand, and a rainwater collection system captures roof runoff to irrigate the courtyard plantings.
"The project reinforced my belief that constraints fuel creativity," Specht reflected. "By embracing the alley lot's tight setbacks, area limitations and windowless envelope, we thought about every inch, eliminated any areas we wouldn't use with frequency, and honed a plan that works incredibly well for our needs." The architect views the project as proof that thoughtful design can transform challenging urban sites into exceptional living spaces.
This latest project continues Specht Novak's exploration of innovative residential design. The firm has previously reimagined a Usonian design for a lakefront house in Pennsylvania and created a symmetrical glass pavilion house in the Berkshires designed specifically to display art. The Stealth House represents another milestone in the firm's commitment to pushing architectural boundaries while addressing contemporary urban challenges.
