An Austin Backyard Wall That Does More Than Block a View

An unsightly three-story apartment building loomed over a renovated bungalow's backyard. Designers Jennifer Orr and Ilse Frank of Studio Balcones didn't just screen it—they designed an 8-foot "moviewall" that redirects the view, creating an intimate entertainment zone on one side and a wild, overgrown wilderness for kids to explore on the other.

Before Photo

BEFORE: A raw 2,000-square-foot construction site exposed to the apartment building. Goal: minimize the view, create a safe, intimate sanctuary.

AFTER: The clients chose the least conventional option: the moviewall. While the yard hosts outdoor film screenings, the real show is behind the wall—a lush, shady garden of natives and adapted non-natives viewed through the wall's aperture. The opening frames the garden's seasonal evolution, becoming a reference for time's passage and a play space for kids.

The poured-in-place concrete wall matches the eave height. A soft putty stucco replaced an initial bright-turquoise idea for long-term appeal. The wall bisects two distinct spaces: a structured dining area with steel-edged granite gravel and recycled glass mulch, and the wild garden beyond. A custom dining table by local artist Ann Armstrong sits on a steel base with cedar-topped benches, evolved from the client's leftover marble slab.

The apartment building remains partially visible, but the clients no longer mind—the wall provides privacy and a garden feature that evolved beyond its original purpose. Kids play on and behind it; it's a seat, a hangout, a frame for life.