Take a look around Austin and you’ll find a multitude of architectural designs. Fortunately for curious minds, the Austin chapter of American Institute of Architects provides the opportunity to see the architectural work of local, private homes during the annual Austin Homes Tour.
Here’s what you can expect to see Oct. 19-20, 2019.
AIA Austin Homes Tour
Almost 33 years ago, AIA Austin Homes Tour started on a small scale. There was “a strong taste for architecturally significant houses by architects” and a group of homeowners who were willing to open their doors for a weekend to share with others.
The event has grown over the years and proves to be a memorable experience for architects, homeowners, and guests alike. The event allows local architects to not only share their work and passion, but to support one another, as well.
This year, there will be 12 beautifully designed homes on the tour, with work by the following architectural firms:
- alterstudio architecture
- Baldridge Architects
- Clayton & Little Architects
- Dick Clark + Associates
- Elizabeth Baird Architecture & Design
- FAB Architecture
- Franke : Franke
- LaRue Architects
- McCollum Studio Architects
- McKinney York Architects
- Ravel Architecture
- Webber + Studio
Now for your sneak peek of the 12 homes!
1/ Cuernavaca Residence by alterstudio architecture
This new construction in the Lake Hills Area is the latest installment of an evolving two-acre family compound. At 6,864-square-feet, the five-bedroom home has a pre-existing pool house and beautiful board-formed concrete walls.
These board-formed walls give a signature look to the home. Guests will also see rift-sawn oak, mill-finished steel, and galvanized metal panels that alternate in orientation with the concrete walls to create a textured environment.
2/ Greenbelt Overlook Residence by Baldridge Architects
This next home has a gorgeous view of the Austin Greenbelt. Talk about a prime location! This 3,432-square-foot home was designed to be both serious and playful, with a hint of modern and rustic influences. The difficult location and design requests created a challenge Baldridge Architects was excited to undertake.
The house has a great collection of features throughout. A small gymnasium lives on the first floor, while the second floor has bedrooms, a small den, and a breathtaking roof deck. Guests are often blown away by the dramatic Greenbelt views one wouldn’t suspect when first entering the home.
3/ Ridge Oak Residence by Clayton & Little Architects
Take a step back in time with this next home, which was originally designed by Austin architects Howard R. Barr, FAIA, in the late 1940s. The current owners bought the 3,696-square-foot house from Barr’s son in 2016. They went through a renovation and addition with Clayton & Little Architects.
The owners kept a piece of the original architectural design with maintained brick, wood siding, punched opening entry proportions, 10-foot ceilings, and a thin roof profile. The renovations of the space included the living spaces, as well as an additional bathroom and closet.
Guests will be wowed by the meticulous trim work of floor-to-ceiling white oak shiplap and floor-to-ceiling steel windows. The view of Pennyback Bridge from these windows will leave anyone breathless.
4/ 007 House by Dick Clark + Associates
You don’t have to tell me more than the name of this next home to make me a fan. With three bedrooms and 2,758-square-feet, it’s said to borrow the spirit of the International Style movement.
The windows in the space allow indoor and outdoor spaces to seamlessly blend together. Landscaping provides some privacy and blends together the connection between the two spaces. The centralized entry also helps separate the privacy levels of the south-facing public areas and north-facing private rooms. The pattern showcases both the sophisticated and casual designs of the rooms, with a connection to nature throughout the space.
5/ 2006 New York Avenue by Elizabeth Baird Architecture & Design
This 1,680-square-foot new bungalow-style home and garage apartment is such a bright space to live in. Elizabeth Baird wanted to provide a twist to the typical Austin bungalow. She pulled apart the floor plan to connect it to the landscape, vaulted the main living spaces, and provided modernization to the finishes.
Her work opened up the space completely, transforming it. There is also a new apartment in the back of the property, which sits above a two-story garage.
6/ 1213 Cullen Ave. by FAB Architecture
This 3,350-square-foot house was designed for a family of four in one of their favorite neighborhoods. The functional spaces of the home have been combined with touches of high craft that provide a sense of simplicity, mixed with the traditional architecture of surrounding spaces.
The exterior of the building is composed of a two-story stucco volume pierced by board-and-batten walls. The carport out front is formed by the low roof that wraps around the home.
Inside, guests will find beautiful floor-to-ceiling cabinets and wooden screens that define the living spaces. The home’s earthen tones and grounded aesthetic were developed closely with the family to create a personalized home for them.
7/ Bridle Path Residence by Franke : Franke
Franke : Franke was both architect and builder of this 3,200-square-foot home. Its open floor plan incorporates natural lighting and native landscaping, creating a bright space. The indoor and outdoor spaces meld together with the clean shed roof that floats over the front facade.
The home’s interior spaces are connected to a central spine, with layered open spaces that allow the family to accommodate both large and small gatherings.
The upper-level includes living spaces that are illuminated by the natural lighting and ventilation that are a key piece of the design. The open floor plan is closed off at the den and master suite, allowing a bit of privacy. The home also features a barbecue porch, small spa, pool room, and private balcony.
8/ Foothill Terrace by LaRue Architects
Take one look at Foothill Terrace and you’ll fall in love with the floor-to-ceiling windows and openness of the space. This home has 5,772-square-feet of heated space and was designed for a retired couple who enjoys the easy indoor/outdoor lifestyle of Austin. It brings contemporary features to an old Austin neighborhood.
The front of the building consists of “a transparent volume bookended by solid masses that provide privacy and directs views through the central core.” The modern rooflines provide additional contemporary feel with horizontal designs and deep wood-lined soffits that float above clerestory windows. Take a step out back and you’ll find a fireplace with retractable screens that creates an additional space that can be used throughout the year.
The master bedroom is located on the first floor, with three additional bedrooms located on the second floor. Guests will also be delighted to view the couple’s breathtaking art collection.
9/ 3804 Desert Flower by McCollum Studio Architect
This 5,430-square-foot home overlooks a nature preserve and creek, providing a dazzling view. It was designed with a contemporary upside-down concept that disguises the size of the space.
The building honors the existing oak trees on the property, which, in turn, provide a natural sense of scale and visual depth to the courtyard. The home balances both privacy and safety with views and passive lighting strategies. In addition to the main living spaces, the home offers a secluded guest suite on the lower level and has a separate bedroom wing for the owners’ children.
10/ Las Brisas Residence by McKinney York Architects
This 4,338-square-foot home was designed for a newly retired couple in West Lake Hills who had lived all over the world and wanted to settle down into a relaxed space. The home displays their interests in the arts, gardening, and wine, as well as provides a space to accommodate intimate gatherings with friends and their family. Nestled in a “woodsy” site, the secluded home has a framed city view.
The home features understated interiors that serve as a muted backdrop for African textiles the owners collected when they lived abroad. It also features a studio that opens to an al fresco workspace, sewing machines that emerge from laundry room counters, and a built-in desk that hides underneath a fold-down bed in the study.
11/ Michael Street House by Ravel Architecture
This magnificent family compound is home to not one, but two generations of family: a mother living with her young family. It was built with the need to provide space for both generations and provide a sense of “retreat” and comfort.
The 3,330-square-foot limestone and wood home is bound by a common central yard and is tucked between clusters of trees that dot the sloping lawn. The kitchen lives in the center of the home and leads out to entertaining areas. In the back lies the terrace and integral lap pool, which is both a dazzling view, and a division of the shared and private spaces. The home also features a multi-story garage with a birdcage stair that connects to a rooftop garden deck and media room.
12/ The Historic 1909 Lawson House in Clarksville by Webber + Studio
This historic home is in a freedman’s college in the Clarksville neighborhood. Webber + Studio helped with new renovations on the home to expand the space, address current needs, and reinform the home’s historicism. The goal: create a seamless connection between the upper-level main floor and large backyard.
The addition Webber + Studio added in renovations “opened up broad views to the rear yard space, while bringing in ample indirect natural light.” They create easy and instant access to the landscaped yard by using wide stairs from the entertainment terrace.
The outside of the home was restored at the street level to invoke the home’s original history. The inside, however, was reinvented to instill a sense of serenity that helps celebrate the original two-room layout of the home. The home features linear skylight in the compressed kitchen.
Tips for Attending AIA Austin Homes Tour
- Guests visiting the homes must wear socks or booties over bare feet. This helps maintain a clean environment for the homeowners who are opening up their doors for the tour.
- Make sure to travel light for mobile tours. You’ll be moving around to various locations throughout Austin.
- No food or drink is allowed inside the homes, so be sure to grab food between stops and leave all snacks in the car.
- Remember there is no photography allowed on the tour.
If you’re interested in attending AIA Austin Homes Tour, you can purchase tickets online. Advanced tickets are $40 and day-of tickets will be $45.
AIA Provides a Voice
The Austin chapter of American Institute of Architects consists of over 1,000 architect and associate members in the greater Austin area, reaching north of Copperas Cove, south to San Marcos, and west to Fredericksburg. The organization works with over 180 Allied companies in our area, as well. Their presence not only helps give strength to the architecture community, but influences public opinion and policies affecting the architectural world.
@theAustinot wants to know:
Which home are you looking forward to seeing most?
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