After scouring the central Austin market for years in search of a large, flat lot with the potential for a new build, the owners came across this unique property that met all of their criteria except for one – its centerpiece was a prominent, but run-down historic home. Not enamored with the Georgian Revival style, which was at odds with their long-standing vision for their modern dream home, they approached the architect for possible solutions, including the prospect of demolition.

In the design process, it quickly became clear that original portions of the structure were of considerable architectural and historic value, and the team embraced the opportunity to restore the once stately mansion, making its rehabilitation the focal point of the larger project. The symmetrical two-story gabled structure remains intact, as a glassy modern addition is woven around it. The result is a dichotomy of architectural styles that serves to clearly juxtapose the two eras of construction and highlight and respect the original symmetrical façade.

This duality is also evident in plan and in the project interiors. Original portions of the home have been restored with the original refurbished mouldings, antique hardware, and fixtures, while new portions of the home emphasize more modern sensibilities, including an open plan and floor-to-ceiling fenestration. As one walks through the home, the perceived threshold between old and new is intentionally subtle. A carefully curated and minimalist interior palette deemphasizes the transition, instead relying on architectural cues – a thickened wall and deep portal, a symmetrical fireplace, a traditional style and rail door. Nowhere is this more evident than at the center of the original home, where the original curved wood staircase has been reimagined as a free spanning helical plaster form.

In contrast to the introverted character of the historic portions of the home, the addition is designed to engage and connect to the outdoors. A series of highly functional outdoor spaces are strategically located to afford generous covered outdoor living spaces, provide solar control for the predetermined orientation of the building, and create moments of privacy and reflection.

Originally built on two large lots, this property was an anomaly of low density in an urban center. This was part of the client’s motivation to purchase the property, and the project team was committed to maintaining its open park-like setting in the neighborhood. Through site design efforts, we were able to reconfigure the parking and access to the home, and by doing so, remove a substantial amount of impervious coverage – replacing it with landscaping, rain gardens, and gravel pathways. Over 30 native specimens were planted on site, with an emphasis on heat reduction and seasonality.

Great effort was made to ensure the original, uninsulated, and non-waterproofed structure was not a weak point in the building’s performance or comfort. The entire shell was disassembled, cataloged, and rebuilt to modern practices, and all systems were replaced with high-efficiency infrastructure. The solar orientation was largely prescribed, with due west exposure to its primary domain. The addition serves to combat this with deep overhangs and solar shading, tuned to optimize daylighting while eliminating unwanted solar heat gain. Furthermore, a coordinated long-term landscape plan accounts for other site liabilities, including low-horizon glare, freeway noise, and neighboring structures.

By reutilizing the existing building, we’ve drastically reduced the number of resources needed to produce the project. Beyond this, portions of the building that were not salvageable were dismantled rather than demolished, and this salvage effort became an exercise in reuse. Even unneeded materials were repurposed in the hardscape, such as the front walls and sidewalks. Furthermore, the building addition is clad in recycled paper composite panels and Austin Commons brick, originally quarried a century prior two miles away in downtown Austin.

Through the careful planning of the architecture and the thoughtful integration of high-performance building systems, this residence’s estimated energy use intensity is 23 points which is a 40% reduction from the 2030 Baseline.