Westlake Steel

The Challenge · Westlake Hills

8-foot grade. Zero masonry.

Bento-Box Geometry · Zero Visible Hardware

A luxury residential property in Westlake Hills required a modern, structural solution to overcome a severe 8-foot grade decline across heavy Central Texas clay and limestone sub-layers. The homeowner sought a seamless extension of their minimalist indoor living space.

The brief: clean bento-box geometry, zero visible lighting hardware, and zero off-the-shelf masonry components. Every element custom-fabricated. Every finish architectural. The entire build executed 100% in-house — zero subcontracted trades.

Where most contractors would propose a CMU block wall with a stone veneer and call it done, Red Agave engineered a tiered structural steel system that reclaimed 1,200 square feet of usable outdoor living space from a slope that was previously unusable.

1/4-inch Corten steel retaining wall with subterranean I-beam posts and deadman anchors — Westlake Hills Austin TX — 01 · Corten Steel System1/4" structural / tiered

Poured marbled concrete slab with artisan swirl finish and steel edging — Westlake Hills Austin TX — 02 · Marbled Concrete$14/sq ft / artisan finish

24V FCOB silicone tape lighting embedded under Corten steel coping lip — Westlake Hills Austin TX — 03 · FCOB Glow Line24V / zero hot spots

Engineering Solution

Structural steel. Not masonry.

Multi-level Corten steel retaining wall system on 8-foot grade decline — Westlake Hills Austin TX

Cantilevered floating concrete steps over gravel bed with concealed steel sub-frame — Westlake Hills Austin TX

Structural · 01 Retaining System 1/4" Corten · Deadman Anchors 1/4-inch heavy-gauge Corten steel plates welded to subterranean I-beam posts set inside 36-inch deep reinforced concrete footers. Horizontal deadman tie-backs extend 6 feet into compacted aggregate. Hydrostatic relief via washed aggregate backfill and solid-core PVC collector pipe network.

System Details

Uncapped Steel Retaining

—1/4-inch Corten steel plates, field-welded to I-beam posts
—36-inch deep reinforced concrete footers
—6-foot deadman anchor tie-backs into compacted aggregate
—Washed aggregate backfill + PVC hydrostatic relief network

Marbled Concrete + Floating Steps

—4-inch poured-in-place marbled concrete slabs ($14/sq ft)
—Artisan marbled surface finish — high visual contrast against dark aggregate
—Cantilevered floating steps over lower gravel beds
—Concealed steel sub-frames beneath each step tread

24V FCOB Lighting

—IP67 waterproof 24V FCOB silicone tape in milled channels
—Under steel coping lips + cantilevered step treads
—ESP32 micro-controller running WLED firmware
—2700K warm-white ambient via app-based control

Specimen Botanical Curation

—Whale’s Tongue Agaves (Agave ovatifolia)
—Artichoke Agaves (Agave parryi)
—Mediterranean Fan Palms (Chamaerops humilis)
—1-inch Black Star basalt gravel ($390/yard) + 6-inch turf margins

Takeoff / Westlake Hills

The blueprint.

01 / Structural

Steel + Concrete

1/4" Corten steel retaining plates
Subterranean I-beam posts
36" reinforced concrete footers
6-ft deadman anchor tie-backs
Solid PVC hydrostatic relief lines
Flo-Well dry basins

02 / Hardscape

Marbled Concrete

4" poured marbled concrete slabs
Cantilevered floating steps
Concealed steel sub-frames
Bento-box step geometry
Black Star basalt gravel beds
6" turf margin borders

03 / Lighting + Flora

FCOB + Agaves

IP67 24V FCOB silicone tape
ESP32 WLED micro-controller
2700K ambient warm-white
Whale’s Tongue Agave specimens
Artichoke Agave specimens
Mediterranean Fan Palms

Feature / System	Material Specification	Engineering Class
Retaining System	1/4" Corten Steel Plate + Subterranean I-Beams	Structural Civil Engineering
Hardscape Surface	Poured-in-Place Marbled Finish Concrete	Artisan Architectural Masonry
Linear Lighting	24V FCOB Silicone Tape + ESP32 WLED Controller	Smart Low-Voltage Electrical
Subsurface Drainage	Solid PVC Lines + Flo-Well Dry Basins	Hydro-Engineering Stormwater
Botanical Palette	Specimen Agaves, Fan Palms, Black Star Stone	Micro-Climate Xeriscaping

Location

Westlake Hills

Build Time

12 Days

Execution

100% In-House

Added Space

1,200 sq ft