London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Austin’s Weird and Wonderful Sand Dollar House Can Be Yours for $2.2M Clams

Austin’s Weird and Wonderful Sand Dollar House Can Be Yours for $2.2M Clams

Here’s your chance to scoop up a splendid seashell house by the seashore.

One of Austin’s most unique homes is now on the market. Located in Lakeway on the south shore of Lake Travis, the Sand Dollar House has some of the best views in town. The home was completed in 1979 by John Covert Watson, an architect who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright while he was building NYC’s Guggenheim Museum in the 1950s. Today, those Guggenheim influences are evident throughout the home’s organic design, with its curved interior walls and circular roofline.



"People boat by the house all the time just to park and look up at it," says broker associate Michelle Jones.

Watson has designed a handful of other Austin residences that show off his love of organic architecture, including his own home off Redbud Isle and the Grotto Dome-a 1978 home in West Lake Hills that’s designed to complement a 1,000-year-old rock. "He’s well known for building interesting, one-of-a-kind houses that are more like works of art instead of homes," says broker associate Michelle Jones.



The home has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a half bath.



Glass tiling can be seen in the rounded kitchen.

The Sand Dollar house was originally built as a second home for artist Eugenia Hunt, and it has served as a vacation retreat for many locals over the years. The current owner has lived in the home since 2017, and she reflects on her time there as an incomparable experience. "The homeowner loves sitting on the upper balcony in the living room and watching the boats go by," Jones says.



This home offers panoramic views of Lake Travis.



The home is also referred as the Nautilus house, as well as the Mushroom House.

The 2,240-square-foot home sits on .285 acres, and it’s made from an unusual material: gunite. While occasionally used in residential projects, gunite is most often used as a pool material, and it’s made from a mix of sand, concrete, and water expelled by a high-pressure hose.

Standing inside the home feels like being inside a seashell-there are teardrop skylights, a spiraling staircase with wood treads, and Lake Travis views from nearly every room. A series of porches extend from the lower level, and a Kiva-like fireplace sits in the living room.



"It’s an iconic Lakeway treasure," says broker associate Michelle Jones.

The two-story home is in great condition with white brick flooring and beautiful glass tiling throughout-and its windows and doors have been replaced for energy efficiency. The entryway is located on the upper level, which holds the main living spaces, while the bedrooms and sitting nook are located on the more private first floor.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×