Expanding Austin’s City Limits: New Homes in America’s Fastest Growing City

The self-proclaimed live-music capital of the world, Austin, Texas, is the fastest growing major city in the United States. According to census figures published in Slate Magazine, Austin’s population has grown by a staggering 2.9 percent only since last summer. Between 2000 and 2010, Austin’s population grew by almost half a million people.

These striking numbers beg the question, what were citywide policies and economic conditions led to this dramatic increase? Or was it just the allure of year-round sunshine, abundance of outdoor concerts, or mouth-watering Texas barbecue?

Back in 2002, then city councilman Will Wynn created the “Keep Austin Weird” initiative, a new program designed to grow and support the local creative class. The City of Austin expanded its support of the famous Austin City Limits Music Festival, created formalized film incentives to encourage production, and opened public space for sports events. Austin’s reputation was solidified as a creative hub with the internationally renowned 10-day South by Southwest Festival celebrating the best and brightest in music, film, and technology. A year after the initiative was put in place, Wynn was elected mayor and served two terms.

What does this quickly expanding city look like? Like other rapidly expanding cities in the American Southwest, Austin’s growth is predominantly suburban. Most Austinites live in single-family houses and travel by car. With the influx of new residents, record numbers of homes are being built — see for yourself:

Lake Austin Residenceby Merzbau Design Collective, Austin, Texas

Sitting on the edge of Lake Austin, this house was built for panoramic waterfront views. This raw steel-and-glass structure has a contemporary edge atypical of the older homes within Austin’s original city limits. The structure cuts into the hillside, fitting in perfectly with the surrounding landscape. Although its located in a large city, this home doesn’t feel urban in the slightest.

Stekler House by Murray Legge Architecture, Austin, Texas

Completed only three years ago, this modern home was designed in response to its natural environment. The structure wraps around a 150-year-old oak tree, creating a semicircle shape. Originally a bungalow in the 1920s, an extension was later built to give the house a much-needed update for Austin’s newer generations of homeowners.

Tree House by Miró Rivera Architects, Austin, Texas

This modern Austin home was built to celebrate its natural surroundings. The structure’s two curving rooflines — one concave and the other convex — communicate with the steeply sloping grounds. Framed by large oak trees, the occupants have a view of the Austin cityscape from inside their spacious living room.

Tree House by MF Architecture, Austin, Texas

Designed around a large oak tree in the inner courtyard, this contemporary Austin home contains several opens spaces for social gatherings. The white stucco box on the top level contrasts with the warm wood and gray steel of the lower level to create an aesthetically pleasing and distinctly modern aesthetic. These varying window sizes are playful additions to this Austin family home.

Hillside Residence by Alterstudio Architects, Austin, Texas

This elegant Austin home design is defined by the contrast between its slanting roof and horizontal sliding glass doors. The large windows and clean white interior let in plenty of light all year round.

Westlake Homestead by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, Austin, Texas

Like several of the Austin homes mentioned above, Westlake Homestead’s design is amplified by the ancient oak tree growing on the property. The steel, wood, and glass of the façade give this old house a modern look. The grassy steps leading to the pool and garden area blend the boundary between the indoor and outdoor space.