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Austin Modern Home Tour 2012
Central courtyards and intimate spaces in open plans highlight Austin's annual modern architecture tour
The Austin Modern Home Tour, created to foster progressive, responsible design and promote the collaborative exchange between real estate professionals, architects and developers, was a rousing success this year. Curated by Ingrid Spencer, former managing editor and current contributing editor for Architectural Record magazine (and Austinite!), the self-guided tour featured 15 homes plus the offices of tour founder, The Good Life Team. Visitors explored how their neighbors celebrate modern building practices and lifestyles by integrating photovoltaic panels, rainwater collection systems, living roofs into homes — while carving out comfortable living spaces with dramatic open spaces and stunning views.
Each year some distinct trends emerge. As with many modern homes, open floor plans were prevalent, but many of this year's homes seemed to take vast rooms and make them more intimate with furniture selections and finishes. Texas limestone was a popular building material, giving the tour a Regional Modernist bent, while Caesarstone returned as a preferred countertop material in bathrooms and kitchens.
The most exciting feature I found this year were central courtyards — or those that appeared central — making potentially exposed homes feel enclosed and intimate without feeling dark. 5 homes from this year's tour:
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | NY Metro | Oregon | No. Calif. | San Francisco| L.A. | Coastal L.A.
Each year some distinct trends emerge. As with many modern homes, open floor plans were prevalent, but many of this year's homes seemed to take vast rooms and make them more intimate with furniture selections and finishes. Texas limestone was a popular building material, giving the tour a Regional Modernist bent, while Caesarstone returned as a preferred countertop material in bathrooms and kitchens.
The most exciting feature I found this year were central courtyards — or those that appeared central — making potentially exposed homes feel enclosed and intimate without feeling dark. 5 homes from this year's tour:
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | NY Metro | Oregon | No. Calif. | San Francisco| L.A. | Coastal L.A.
by Specht Harpman
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1. Live Oak Ridge Road. The facade of this 5,500-square- foot home by Specht Harpman Architects has a bit of a commercial feel, but step inside and you are surrounded by a vibrant, colorful, cozy environment. Look out any window and you'll see that this house is an outstanding example of the magic that happens when a structure is well integrated with its lot and landscape.
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by Specht Harpman
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| The architects played with levels and selected warm materials that worked beautifully with the natural backdrop just beyond the windows. |
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| A bold use of colors and dark, dramatic lighting, strongly directed by the homeowners, encouraged an intimacy within larger spaces. Deep blues and purples, and bright oranges and pinks delineated spaces and gave the modernist shell a vibrant, moody feel. |
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by Specht Harpman
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| One of my favorite small elements was this master bathroom built-in — warm, practical and beautiful. |
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by Specht Harpman
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| The vanishing edge pool isn't too hard on the eyes, is it? |
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2. Red Bud Trail. Designed by Cottam Hargrave, this house features a 900-pound woven-steel front gate and a copper and stainless steel roof. No exterior paint required — how's that for low-maintenance?
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by Cottam Hargrave
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| The structure was designed around an an existing pool updated to take center stage and incorporated the expansion of a much smaller existing home. |
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| A mix of furniture styles — modern and traditional with gorgeous antique rugs strewn about — warms up the modern interior. |
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| An antique bookcase and a vintage credenza were repurposed as a room divider and a fully stocked dry bar. |
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by Cottam Hargrave
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| The result is a grand home with views that stretch along an expansive window wall on the street side as well as a more intimate window-scaping on the back. |
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| 3. Balcones Drive. Perched atop a limestone cliff, this treehouse-like abode offers another example of an expansive interior made to feel intimate and cozy, due to natural materials and impeccable furniture placement by architect Elizabeth Alford of Pollen Architecture. |
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| The interior cladding throughout created a warmth despite the wide-open spaces, while a NanaWall enlarges the living area, welcoming nature and fresh air into the cool, modern space. |
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| 4. West Elizabeth Street. Alterstudio took what could have been a very public home and made it highly private without compromising light. A concrete wall at the facade wall looks imposing from the street, but it actually encloses a little patio area complete with soothing water feature, giving the entrance some weight. |
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| A stark, open living-dining-kitchen looks out onto an enclosed year made to feel like a European courtyard. |
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| The concrete enclosure provides tremendous privacy for a lot that backs onto a strip of retail stores. |
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5. Wade Avenue. This sprawling home, designed by Austin favorite, Webber+Studio, shared many of the features of the previously mentioned homes: large, open spaces made to feel intimate, consideration of placement within the landscape, attention to natural light and how to best take advantage of it. But, the spectacular master bathroom set this house apart from the rest.
Who doesn't love the feel of an outdoor shower from the comfort of a clean, bright interior shower?
More about the Austin Modern Home Tour
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | NY Metro | Oregon | No. Calif. | San Francisco| L.A.
Who doesn't love the feel of an outdoor shower from the comfort of a clean, bright interior shower?
More about the Austin Modern Home Tour
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | NY Metro | Oregon | No. Calif. | San Francisco| L.A.
Comments
kelly57 Beautiful spaces.
15 months ago · Like
Adam We see all the staged photos but the picture taken from the street shows the neighboring typical house with horizontal siding and windows w/ shutters next door.
15 months ago · Like
Becky Harris It seems like every house that turns my head these days is in Austin; I would have loved this tour.
15 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Feb. 12, 2012.
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