In the center of downtown Bastrop, Texas, sits a city block that is home to the Powell Cotton Seed Mill, silos, and other outbuildings, built in the early 1900‘s. Over the years these buildings were used for many things, most recently a junk yard/auto reclamation shop.  The mill is a pole barn structure, with wood posts sunk into the ground, dirt floors, and old growth pine used to frame the building all covered with a corrugated metal skin. The local Bastrop Fine Arts Guild purchased the property with the intent of repurposing the site into the Lost Pines Art Center, a regional arts facility housing a gallery, offices, studios, a foundry, hot glass shop, ceramics, and gift shop.  Along with those uses, a large part of the grounds would be dedicated to green spaces to house gatherings and art shows. Due to the extreme deterioration of the Mill’s wooden structure, it will be disassembled with the material and corrugated metal skin reused into the new flagship gallery and offices.  The remaining existing buildings will be renovated.

Located on a lot so steep it was once deemed unbuildable, the design of this home takes full advantage of the prevailing breezes, spectacular views, and the owners’ desire to remain in the neighborhood they call home. The house hugs the rocky ridge and steep slope, providing a top floor to accommodate the owner’s plan to ‘age in place’, while the downstairs is a space for family visits. The best compliment to this home’s energy efficient design? In the teeth of the brutal 2011 summer, this house was the venue for a fundraiser that was cool and comfortable – and utility bills averaged $127/month.

Ecologically minded clients also wanted to incorporate FUN into their home!  Not only did we pay special attention to the site and its micro-climate, but we introduced the clients to products that are healthier to live with, yet easy to obtain regionally.  We believe in using space wisely, helping you avoid over-building, so as to create a true sense of “home” while incorporating an innovative flair.

This holistic or “whole house” design approach was adopted from the inception of this project to ensure that this contemporary designed home would achieve the following  goals : beauty, comfort,  energy and resource efficiency, durability, lower maintenance, within an environmentally conscious,  healthy and safe environment.  

In the Steiner Ranch neighborhood of Northwest Austin our clients wanted to build a family home that would provide a comfortable backdrop for them to raise their two sons. They found the perfect property sitting at the edge of a ravine with great views that faced to the southeast. The set was staged for the new home to be with perfect orientation for the Central Texas climate.

This holistic or “whole house” design approach was adopted from the inception of this project to ensure that this well-designed home would achieve the following goals: beauty, comfort, energy and resource efficiency, durability, lower maintenance, within an environmentally conscious, healthy and safe environment.

What makes this home a unique is that it demonstrates a complete remodeling and updating on the interior from a home originally designed in 2000 with the “Craftsman” style in mind to the Modern style - while retaining many of the positive features of the original design by the owner/architect.

This site specific home is laid out to efficiently work with the topography, orientation, views, and breezes of the Texas Hill-Country. Overhangs, awnings, and deep covered patios provide passive solutions to keeping direct sunlight from entering into the house while still allowing large window openings to connect to the outdoors.

Taking the time to integrate the client's lifestyle expectations, design tastes, and budget constraints was imperative for a great outcome.  Addressing the site, we pay homage to the views, solar orientation, prevailing breezes, geography and vegetation, as well as the context of the neighborhood. These are some of the elements that make your house feel at home in its setting.