Visit Austin

Austin Insider Blog

This blog, written and curated by Visit Austin staff, shares the things that visitors love and locals can't get enough of.

Self-Guided Austin Architecture Tour

Take a walking or driving tour to witness examples of Austin's most notable architecture. Each building has a unique story to tell, from the historic buildings on the University of Texas campus to the hard lines of downtown's Contemporary Ausitn Jones Center. Plan to visit each location for a fun (and free!) sightseeing adventure.

Central Library Exterior

Central Library

710 W Cesar Chavez St Austin Public Library's new Central Library , designed by Lake Flato-design, features six floors of literary fun all housed within a modern exterior and native Texas landscaping to match. Since its completion in 2017, the building has been met with widespread acclaim and was even named one of the 2018 World’s Greatest Places by Time Magazine . The inside is home to thousands of books and digital resources, a giant wall clock, a gift shop, a literary-themed restaurant and what appears to be floating stairs.

Austin City Hall

301 W 2nd St Completed in 2004, architects Antoine Predock and Cotera Kolar Negrete & Reed created a unique design that sports modern, clean lines for Austin's City Hall . The space uses solar panels and was built with recycled materials. When visiting City Hall, take note of the 49-foot medal structure sticking out of the back of the building; the whole building is designed to represent an armadillo, the official small state mammal of Texas. While on site, check out the  People’s Gallery at City Hall , a showcase of works by Austin artists and arts organizations with more than 140 artworks displayed throughout the building.

Frost Bank Tower

401 Congress Ave Considered Austin’s first skyscraper this 515-foot, LEED Platinum certified building was designed by Duda/Paine and HKS Architects and completed in 2004. During construction, the Frost Bank Tower  was the tallest building in the country post-9/11, and is covered in a unique mirror-like Low-e Glass Skin exterior. Local legend rumors that the architects attended Rice University, and thus designed the building with an owl-like shape - although this one has yet to be proven true! Step inside to grab a latte at Houndstooth Coffee or a quick lunch at JuiceLand, OneTaco or Mod Market.

The Driskill Hotel exterior at sunset with frost bank tower behind

The Driskill Hotel

604 Brazos St Colonel Jesse Driskill, a wealthy Austin landowner, opened the lavish Driskill Hotel  in 1886. For decades, The Driskill has been the place to stay for celebrities or public figures who need to rest their heads in Austin. J. N. Preston’s Romanesque building design features portrait busts of Driskill and his sons. An annex was added in 1930 to compete with the 1924 Stephen F. Austin Hotel on Congress Avenue. The Driskill will celebrate its 135th Anniversary in 2021. Step inside to dine on famous original recipes at the charming 1886 Café & Bakery , or experience live music at The Driskill Bar , named the Best Bar in Texas by Southern Living. Or, return at night with one of Austin's ghost tours , several of which include the hotel on their haunted tours! If you are staying in your car, the exterior alone is enough to amaze.

Paramount Theatre exterior at night with crowd

Paramount Theatre

713 Congress Ave Built in the Classical Revival Style and designed by architect John Eberson, the  Paramount Theatre  was opened in 1915 and has since played host to a multitude of stars. The historic stage has been graced by sitting presidents, Academy-, GRAMMY-, Tony- and Golden Globe-winning performers, magicians (we're talking Houdini) and more. Originally conceived as a Vaudeville theatre and named the Majestic Theatre, the theatre also showed silent films with live orchestration and was later remodeled in 1930 to add air conditioning, upholstered seats and more. When they aren't advertising for a show Paramount leaves uplifting messages on its marquee sign for people walking by to enjoy. While in the area, take note of additional historic structures along Congress Avenue , including the neighboring 1935  State Theatre which was the first theatre in Austin designed for movie screenings.

Texas State Capito, South Facade

Texas State Capitol

1100 Congress Ave Few buildings in town are as easily identifiable as the Texas State Capitol . Modeled after the United States Capitol (with a Texas twist), the Texas State Capitol opened in 1888 and is 14 feet higher than the nation's capital. Architect Elijah E. Myers’ 1888 Renaissance Revival design includes a base of rusticated Sunset Red Texas granite, sourced from Granite Mountain in the Texas Hill Country. While the dome is made of cast iron and sheet metal, and topped by a Goddess of Liberty statue (the original of which can be found on display at the  Bullock Texas State History Museum ). The seals on the south façade commemorate the six governments that have ruled in Texas over time: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and the United States. While in the area, be sure to walk the entire Capitol Complex to explore even more history and stunning architecture.

Moonlight Towers

Throughout the city - stop by the tower at 1498 San Antonio St during your tour Austin's moonlight towers are the only known surviving and working moonlight towers in the world. The 165-foot-tall structures are a unique sight, purchased by the city in 1894 to illuminate the city at night. As of today, there are 13 towers around town , all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The moonlight tower in Zilker Park serves as the base for the spectacular Zilker Holiday Tree  each year.

UT Tower and campus in Austin Texas

110 Inner Campus Dr. Standing tall with 27-floors, the  UT Tower  is the most recognizable building on the University of Texas campus . The original main building was constructed in Victorian Gothic style and utilized from 1882-1934. The new building, designed by architect Paul Cret and completed in 1937, was first used as a library and houses a 56-bell carillon which is still be played daily. Take a tower tour and catch a glimpse of the full campus from the observation deck. Also, be sure to spot the Tower glowing burnt orange for special events and after any Longhorn win.

End your tour with a panoramic view of the downtown skyline at Auditorium Shores , overlooking Lady Bird Lake.

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Guest Blogger

architecture tour austin

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Austin Arts and Architecture in Just 2.5 hours

Quick Details

  • Best For:   If you’re looking for a unique and informative way to experience Austin’s arts and culture scene, the AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour is the perfect choice for you. Visit some of the city’s most iconic buildings and public art installations. Our 14 seater Mercedes Sprinter tour bus will keep you comfortable while our expert guides keep you entertained.
  • Tour departure point : Austin Visitor Center
  • Tour Numbers: 14 max
  • Special requirements or restrictions: There are none.   You’ll be comfortable in our luxury Mercedes Sprinter tour bus
  • Tour Days: Sunday
  • Times : 2.30 pm

Austin Art and Architecture Tour: A Must-Do for Tourists

Austin, Texas is a vibrant city with a diverse and thriving arts and culture scene. This is reflected in the city’s architecture, which ranges from historic buildings to modern skyscrapers.

If you’re looking for a unique and informative way to experience Austin’s arts and culture scene, the AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour is the perfect choice for you. Our 2.5-hour tour takes you to some of the city’s most iconic buildings and public art installations while providing you with insights into the city’s history and culture.

Why You Should Book the AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour

There are many reasons why tourists in Austin should book the AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour. Here are just a few:

  • It’s a comprehensive tour of Austin’s arts and culture scene. The tour covers a wide range of topics, from the city’s historic architecture to its modern public art.
  • It’s informative and entertaining. Your knowledgeable guide will share interesting stories and facts about Austin’s arts and culture throughout the tour.
  • It’s a great way to see the city from a different perspective. The tour takes you to places that you wouldn’t normally find on your own and points out interesting spots many overlook.
  • It’s affordable. The tour is very reasonably priced, especially considering the amount of information and entertainment you get.

What You’ll See on the Tour

During the AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour, you’ll see some of the city’s most iconic buildings and public art installations, including:

  • Texas State Capitol
  • Austin Central Library
  • Elizabet Ney Museum
  • Neill-Cochran House
  • Waterloo Greenway
  • Willie Nelson statue
  • Kempelen’s Robotic Owls
  • Barbara Jordan Statue
  • Clock Knot Statue

You’ll learn about the history and culture of Austin, and the evolution of our arts and architecture scene.

About the Guides

The AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour is conducted by experienced and knowledgeable guides. Your guide will be able to answer all of your questions about Austin’s arts and culture scene, and they will share interesting stories and facts with you throughout the tour.

The AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour is the perfect way for tourists to experience Austin’s vibrant arts and culture scene. It’s an informative, entertaining, and affordable tour that is suitable for all ages.

How to Book a Tour:

To book an AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour, you can visit the AO Tours website or call them at (512) 659-9478. Tours depart daily from downtown Austin and last approximately 2.5 hours.

Cancellation Policy:

Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

We hope to see you on our tour!

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Hop Aboard an Art & Architecture Tour for a Look Inside Austin’s Modern and Historic Buildings

Explore the city via an air-conditioned tour that highlights austin's oldest and newest architecture.

  • By Heidi Okla
  • photos by Holly Cowart
  • August 06, 2023

architecture tour austin

Whether you’re looking for a new way to explore the city or hosting guests from out-of-town on a sightseeing adventure, AO Tours provides a wonderful new way to travel around Austin and learn about our capital city’s most iconic buildings. On the Art & Architecture Tour, a friendly tour captain will guide a small group around Austin in a comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes tour bus. You’ll gather downtown at the Austin Visitor Center, then cruise around the city noting both modern and historic buildings while taking several stops at some interesting and most recognizable destinations.

architecture tour austin

Truly a fun experience for locals and tourists alike, you can expect to learn many interesting tidbits of information about Austin’s unique and varied approach to design throughout the decades. The tour, which lasts approximately two and a half hours, provides the opportunity to step on and off the vehicle at several stops, while also offering plenty of drive-by views of classic Austin landmarks that you can see from the comfort of your seat.

architecture tour austin

Highlights of the AO Art & Architecture Tour

Downtown – View a mix of architectural styles including Gothic, Greek Revival and Moderne. You’ll see some of the best public artwork in the city, including Tau Ceti, the tallest mural in Austin.

architecture tour austin

Seaholm District – Swing through this unique area to see the butterfly bridge, the Jenga-like tower of the Independent, Kempelen’s Robotic Owls, and the former City of Austin power plant that the district is named after. Thereafter, you’ll have the chance to pop into the remarkable Central Library where you can take the elevator up to the rooftop for sweeping views of the city and Lady Bird Lake.

architecture tour austin

Judges Hill – Drive through this historic area near the UT Campus, and enjoy a stop in the lovely, historic Neill-Cochran House where you can meet the museum’s curator for a short tour of this Greek Revival mansion.

architecture tour austin

RELATED: Neill-Cochran House Museum Offers A Glimpse Into Austin’s Past

Hyde Park – Travel through the charming neighborhood of Hyde Park to appreciate a mix of architecture including Victorian, Queen Anne, Tudor Revivals, and American Craftsman bungalow. Following the drive, you will have the chance to walk into the Elisabet Ney  Museum to view the works of this renowned sculptor in her former home.

architecture tour austin

RELATED: Elisabet Ney Was Decades Ahead of Her Time

Explore the city even further

In addition to the Architecture Tour, AO Tours provides a variety of other unique sightseeing options — perfect for anyone getting to know Austin. Another panoramic tour allows you to see highlights of the city in a glass top convertible. You can also try an Offbeat Austin Tour in which guides share the myths, legends, and tales of the figures who made Austin such a proudly weird locale. If you’d like to go further than city limits, you can also opt for a tour of the Hill Country. View the variety of tours and be sure to book your trip in advance.

architecture tour austin

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A Tour of Austin's Architectural Landmarks

Texas State Capitol

When some of Austin’s first pioneers began settling the area in the 1830s, they chose the location along the Colorado River for its varied landscape with rolling hills, waterways and vast green spaces. Today, the city’s skyline is as diverse as its landscape. From the domed State Capitol building to the icy details of the Frost Bank Tower, here’s an introduction to some of Austin’s architectural landmarks – including a few hidden gems that are easy to miss!

Texas state capitol.

When Texas won independence from Mexico in 1836, the new republic’s second president, Mirabeau B. Lamar, proposed relocating the capital from Houston to Austin. Construction on the Capitol building began in 1853, but due to a fire in 1881, the current structure is actually the third iteration of the project. Modeled after the national capitol building in Washington, D.C., the dome stands 302.64 feet (92.24 m) tall, making it the sixth tallest state capitol, and one of several taller than the United States Capitol .

With 360,000 square feet (33,000 m2) of floor space – more than any other state building – the interior features nearly four hundred rooms, nine hundred windows, and a whispering gallery in the central rotunda. Recent polls by the American Institute of Architects ranked the Texas State Capitol as the number-one state capitol, and named it 92nd of 150 favorite architectural projects across the country

Texas State Capitol

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Governor’s Mansion

Designed in a Greek Revival style, construction on the nearby Governor’s Mansion began around the same time as the Texas State Capitol. The building was completed in 1856, making it the oldest continuously inhabited house in Texas, and the fourth oldest governor’s mansion in the country to be continuously occupied by a chief executive. A remodel in 1914 increased the size of the mansion to 8.920 square feet (829 m2), also adding bathrooms, which the original structure lacked. The building’s architect, Abner Cook, was influential in some of Austin’s earliest development, and responsible for several of the city’s oldest homes, including the Woodlawn Estate and Neil Cochran House.

Texas Governor’s Mansion, 1010 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701 + 1 512 463-5518

Texas Governor’s Mansion

Main Tower at the University of Texas at Austin

Upon winning independence from Mexico, the Constitution of the Republic of Texas contains the earliest recorded statement of intent to create a public university. Established almost forty years later, in 1883, the University of Texas is now one of the world’s premier universities, with 18 of its research disciplines ranking in the top 10 worldwide . The campus houses seven museums and 17 libraries with over nine million volumes, making it the seventh largest academic library in the U.S. One of the main architectural attractions on campus is the 307 foot (94 m) Main Tower, designed by Paul Philippe Crete and completed in 1937. At the top of the Tower is the state’s largest carillon, which contains 56 bells that chime daily.

Main Building, 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, Texas, +1 512 471-3434

UT Main Tower

Frost Bank Tower

Until recently, Austin’s historically modest skyline was dominated by the Texas State Capitol and the Main Tower, with 10 of its tallest buildings completed after 2004. The Frost Bank Tower was the pioneer of this new generation of skyscrapers, and the first high-rise building to be constructed in the United States after the 9/11 attacks. Designed by Duda/Paine Architects, LLP and HKS Inc, the building was developed by Cousins Properties and houses 525,000 square feet (48,774 m2) of leasable space, including the Texas-based Houndstooth Coffee at ground level.

Like most architectural gems , the tower received mixed reviews, earning both critical acclaim as Best New Building (2004, ’06–’08) and nicknames like “giant nose hair trimmers.”

Frost Bank Tower, 401 Congress Avenue​​ Austin, TX, USA , +1 512 473 4343

The Frost Bank Tower

Long Center for the Performing Arts

As the “Live Music Capital of the World,” it’s no wonder Austin’s list of architectural gems includes more than one music venue . Recognizing the city’s need for a high-quality permanent performance venue, Austin’s primary symphony orchestra, opera group, and ballet company joined forces in the late 1990s, petitioning the City of Austin to lease and renovate the Lester A. Palmer Auditorium. Renamed the Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts, the renovation includes the Michael & Susan Dell Hall (2,242 seats) and the Debra & Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre (229 seats).

One of its architectural highlights is the circular “ring-beam” around the city terrace, which provides a panoramic view of downtown Austin across Lady Bird Lake. Originally an anchoring structure for the Palmer Auditorium, the ring beam design showcases the development’s efforts to reduce cost and decrease environmental impact by recycling 95% of materials from the pre-existing building.

The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704 +1 512 474 5664

Austin Skyline viewed from the Long Center’s City Terrace

The Trail Restroom

In addition to its more prominent buildings, Austin is home to hidden gems and outdoor masterpieces, like the Trail Restroom on Lady Bird Lake. This piece of functional public art consists of almost 50 Corten steel plates, which vary in height and width. The plates stagger along a coiling spine, forming the shelter of the restroom and providing both light and air. Designed by Austin-based Miró Rivera Architects, the sculpture is the first public restroom built on the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail in over 30 years. The handicapped-accessible facility features an external drinking fountain and shower, as well as a commode, urinal, sink and bench inside.

Miró Rivera Restroom, Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, Austin, TX 78701

Moody Theater

Another recent addition to Austin’s architecture is the Moody Theater, which hosts the famous television program, Austin City Limits . The longest running music series in American TV history, the show recorded its first 36 seasons in Studio 6A in the Communications Building B on the University of Texas campus, moving to the Moody Theater in 2011. The new studio has capacity for 2,750 fans and is located in Austin’s Block 21, a 300-million-dollar mixed-use development that includes shops, restaurants, and the W Austin Hotel and Residences.

Moody Theater, 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX 78701 +1 512 225-7999

Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater

Buford Tower

Originally intended as a fireman’s practice tower, the beautiful red brick Buford Bell Tower is located onWest Cesar Chavez. The six-story structure was named after Captain James L. Buford, a local firefighter who drowned trying to save a young boy in Shoal Creek. Designed in an Italianate style by Roy J. White, the tower was constructed in 1930 by Rex D. Kitchens Construction Co. White’s wife later directed the restoration efforts and installed a carillon bell system. The bells chime Westminster Quarters on the hour and Christmas carols during the Christmas season. The tower also now serves as the site of an annual memorial service for first responders who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks.

Buford Tower, 201 West Cesar Chavez, Austin, Texas

Buford Tower

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

architecture tour austin

Guides & Tips

Tick off texas with these three essential hotspots.

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Places to Stay

The best vacation rentals to book in texas.

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The Best Hotels to Book in Waco, Texas

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The Best Beach Hotels and Beach Houses to Book in Texas

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The Best Cottages to Book in Texas

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The Best Cabins and Lodges to Book in Texas

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The Best Hotels to Book Near Spa Castle, Texas

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The Best Hotels to Book Near Pedernales Falls State Park, Texas

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Explore the Most Beautiful Places in Texas With This Epic Road Trip

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What's On

A hoedown dedicated entirely to watermelons only in texas....

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Film & TV

It’s curtains up as films hit the silver screen in texas hill country, winter sale offers on our trips, incredible savings.

architecture tour austin

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architecture tour austin

The Go Green tour highlights some of the many places that make Austin a leader in green building and environmental stewardship. Smart use of resources and environmental sensitivity have always been important aspects of designing good places, and are now essential as the effects of climate change intensify.

The Austin Energy Green Building program (AEGB), with 30 years of progressive efficiency standards, has been key to Austin’s sustainable leadership. With roots in Austin’s own Energy Star Rating program of 1985, Austin Energy create the first green building program in the country—and the basis for the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (USGBC LEED) certification system. This Tour includes both AEGB-rated and LEED-certified places. Austin’s architects have embraced these programs as effective sustainability metrics in line with the AIA’s own Framework for Design Excellence .

Local architects, sustainable design enthusiasts, and Austinites Bud Franck and Riley Triggs, AIA compiled notable approaches to green building around Austin, all accessible by car and listed in walkable clusters. The tour begins at Austin’s original-airport-turned-planned-neighborhood on the outskirts of north central Austin, continues through downtown icons old and new, shifts east through the historic Six Square district, and finishes in southeast Austin at the ever-expanding international airport. AIA Austin’s Women in Architecture Committee members Sadi Brewton, AIA; Sara Alicia Costa, AIA; Kristen Decker Ali; Kalen McNamara, AIA;  and Pooja Shetty, Assoc. AIA, provided additional coordination and narratives for this tour.

The first half of this tour, from the Mueller Development to the LCRA Redbud Center, takes approximately 90 minutes by car or two hours by bike. The second half, from the LCRA Redbud Center to Austin Bergstrom International Airport, takes approximately 45 minutes by car or three hours by bike.

Special thanks to our community partner, Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) ,  for their assistance in the production of this tour.

Places & Spaces in This Tour

Mueller development, aisd performing arts center, center for maximum potential building systems (max pot), lcra redbud center, seaholm power plant redevelopment, austin central library, austin city hall, capital studios, waterloo park, african american cultural and heritage facility, next door creative offices, george washington carver museum and cultural center, lady bird johnson wildflower center, austin-bergstrom international airport (aus).

RTF | Rethinking The Future

Architecture In Austin: 15 Uniques Buildings Every Architect Must See

architecture tour austin

From new to old, Austin , Texas , has an amalgamation of distinctive architectural marvels that are awe-inspiring for any curious visitor. Being home to rich cultural diversity, architecture in Austin has had its fair share of influence from multiple architectural styles. From high-rise, residential , hospitality, and commercial , we have picked out 15 gems commemorating the creativity of the Austin landscape.

Frost Bank Tower | Architecture In Austin

An integral part of Austin’s skyline, Frost Bank Tower stands tall at 91 meters. With its specific staggering outline, Frost Bank embraces the city’s unique character. The tower shimmers in the daytime with its blue-glass curtain wall and distinctive crown of folded glass planes. Its limestone base gives way to clear blue glass, enhancing the verticality of the building, inevitably folding into a jagged crown of glass and steel. It is hard to miss the conversation this building has with the city from day to night, reflecting the blue skies to pink at sunset and eventually lighting up at night. 

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Arrive East Austin Hotel

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Baldridge Architects saw that a conventional hotel is in isolation from the public. They wanted to take a different approach to the hotel design by minimizing the hotel identity and maximising an open platform for public engagement with rentable rooms. Therefore, they proposed a dynamic form that responds to Austin’s street-side guidelines and grows with a subtle shift in floor plates. The building connects to its context and invokes the past by commemorating its surrounding structures. The masonry-infilled concrete structure hints at previously existing warehouses and the historical Huston Tillotson University.  

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Fifth + Tillery Office Building 

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Designed by Gensler, this environmentally friendly building is mindful of Austin’s climate. Fifth + Tillery office has revived a post-industrial site to a lush green office environment that brings the outside to the inside. The building optimally utilises pre-dominant breezes through its south-facing entry plaza, generating passive cooling. As Austin can get hot in the summer, ample shaded outdoor areas are provided within the building. The shade is provided through adequate vegetation like sycamore trees and a staggered photovoltaic panel. The building, complete with a hybrid-timber structure, creates a peaceful work environment.

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Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” 

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Ellsworth Kelly’s final and only architectural work, Austin, is a 2715 square feet vaulted structure displayed at the Blanton Museum of Art. Simplistic yet contemplative, the small chapel’s light structure emphasises the harmony of color, form, and light. Although the building is reminiscent of a church, it is not one of them. Many have described it as a secular church. However, it does capture the essence of Roman religious architecture through stained glass windows, a double-barrel vault, a grid-based entrance, white facades, and a totem sculpture in the rear part of the building, in place of a conventional altar. This secular church reaches its full potential and spirituality throughout the daytime when the sun interacts with the multiple compositions of stained-glass windows, creating an awe-inspiring interior.

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House Zero | Architecture In Austin

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As an immersion of new technology with reality, Austin got presented with House Zero at the SXSW Festival in 2022. House Zero is a 3D-printed ranch-style home for single families. It took ten days to print and features walls laid down for 2000 square feet. ICON and Lake Flato collaborated on this design by utilising a material that ICON calls Lavacrete. Lavacrete is an air-tight cement-like substance that provides adequate insulation and structural stability. This house is paving the way for new construction and opening avenues for a new design language!

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Austin City Hall and Public Plaza 

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Growing from the rich landscape of Austin, the new city hall constructed in 2004 exudes connectivity with the city. The form designed by Antoine Predock cascades down towards Lady Bird Lake. Angled windows along the periphery capture scenic views of the lake. The building symbolises the warm informality of Austin and acts as a catalyst for community gatherings. The informal grid of the building skews away from the formal grid of the city, providing open avenues for interaction. A 4-story lobby is sliced by catwalk-like bridges in the interior, reflecting the informality of the outside to the inside. Overall, the qualities plaza and the limestone exterior create a living room within the city.

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Shore Vista Boat House 

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Designed by Bercy Chen Studio , the Shore Vista beach house flows into Lake Austin. The house has many features, like an elliptical form with a winding circulation. Here, Large curved glass windows create a portal to the natural surroundings. All 1600 square feet of mass undulates from the landscape. One of the key features of this house is a falling waterfall that merges the house with the lake. From connection to the beach and the water, this house is perfect for a weekend getaway!

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The Long Center for the Performing Arts

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From old to new, Nelsen Architects, along with Zeidler Partnership, recycled the 1950s Palmer Auditorium into the Long Center for Performing Arts . This building is home to Austin’s opera, symphony, and ballet. A large ring beam hoisted up by several columns envelops the theatre and reflects the circular ceiling inside the concert hall, all as an ode to the Palmer Center. The Michael and Susan Dell Concert Hall within the long center is a classically designed 2300-seater bound to immerse you with melodies, a symphonic museum, or even spoken word!

The State Capitol building 

State Capitol Building _©Shutterstock

Celebrating Renaissance Revival Architecture , the State Capitol building sits in the heart of Austin. Opened in 1888, the building is a harmony of domes, columns, plasterwork, and pediments that exude classical proportions. The building creates a unique hue due to its sunset-red granite from mountains near Marble Falls. Due to its unique style and excellent maintenance, visitors are attracted to this building each year!

Driskill Hotel | Architecture In Austin

Driskill Hotel _©ICE Portal

A blast from the past is what best describes the Driskill Hotel . The oldest and one of the best-known hotels in Texas welcomes you with its Romanesque style façade. It was built in 1886 and still stands today in note-worthy condition. Two buildings make up the Driskill hotel, a four-story Romanesque revival building constructed in 1886 and a 13-story annexe been built in 1930. The architect Jasper Preston designed the building around two porticos on the east and western façade, containing one of the largest Richardsonian-style arches in Texas. Adorned with gable ends and longhorns, the pressed bricks and limestone façade greets you as you enter the city!

LBJ Library and Museum 

LBJ Library and Museum _©Spencer Selvidge

The first presidential library in Austin, The LBJ Library and Museum is designed to reflect on the life of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th president of the United States and was responsible for multiple changes. These changes are all reflected in the museums in terms of permanent exhibits. The exterior is simplistic to hold the complex ideas LBJ had. It is monumental, with a stark plain façade that lets one contemplate what’s inside. The interior also acts like a blank canvas, where the exhibit brings the museum to life.

Cathedral of Saint Mary in Austin | Architecture In Austin

Cathedral of Saint Mary in Austin _©Ted Lee Eubanks Photography

Built in the 1850s for Austin’s Irish community, the church still stands as an architectural marvel. The cathedral was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and is the cathedral parish of the Catholic Diocese in Austin. Designed by Nicholas J. Clayton, the church is a Victorian Design and Gothic Revival. Time and time again, other additions and removals have been conducted on the church, but it’s still preserved sufficiently. With its rose window, tree-like columns, and tracery of vines and leaves, the cathedral will surely transport you into a fairy tale!  

John Bremond House 

John Bremond House _©Carol M. Highsmith

Austin has a rich cultural heritage , especially in the Northwest downtown. There are multiple residences, from Victorian to Georgian to Greek Revival, can be found here. The state has converted this area into a walking tour, giving glimpses of the past. One such structure that stands out from the tour is the John Bermond House. It is a part of the Bermond Block Historic District, which contains 11 homes designed in classic Victorian architecture from the 1850s to 1910. Made a part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, this house consists of classic columns, arches, stylised gable roofs, and even circular and rounded planning. This house represents the lavish lifestyle of the Bermond family, who were popular socialites of Austin in the late nineteenth century.

Walter Tips Building

Walter Tips Building _©Gerald Moorhead

Still a commercial space today, the Walter Tips Building is one of Austin’s important landmarks . Designed by architect Jasper Newton Preston, this building becomes a sight for sour eyes due to its hybrid architectural styles, combing Venetian Gothic and Italianate Renaissance. From pointed arches, Corinthian capitals, and fluted pilasters, we can see how intricate the building design is. The interior is just as marvellous as the exterior, comprised of two skylights and an intricate structural system. A cast-iron colonnade is spanned by cast-iron arches on one level, transitioning to wooden columns and arches at the second level. Architects are sure to draw inspiration from such a well-crafted framework!

Bumble HQ “The Hive” | Architecture In Austin

Bumble HQ _©Casey Dunn

For our last building, we will present one of the newer works of Architecture. Bumble HQ is an adaptive reuse project in the Rosedale neighbourhood. It drives inspiration from the old commercial building of the early-60s to create a lifestyle-focused environment. This 4800 square foot arena Beehive revolves around hexagonal patterns and bold colours, reflecting the client’s brand. Mark Odom Studios have successfully created two stories of a productive environment that feels homely. Key features to notice in this project are the intricate flooring , exposed ceiling, and importantly, a balance of private and public spaces using pattern and colour.

Bumble HQ Interior _©Casey Dunn

References:

Architectural Engineers Collaborative (2019) Long Center for the performing arts – architectural engineers collaborative (AEC) , Architectural Engineers Collaborative . Available at: https://aecollab.com/projects/cultural-arts/long-center-for-the-performing-arts (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

ArchiTexas (2022) LBJ Library and museum , Architexas . Available at: https://architexas.com/projects/lbj-library-and-museum/ (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Bramley, A. (2021) Arrive east austin hotel / baldridge architects , ArchDaily . ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/965024/arrive-east-austin-hotel-baldridge-architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Chen, C. (2013) Shore Vista Boat House by Bercy Chen studio LP , Architizer . Available at: https://architizer.com/projects/shore-vista-boat-house/ (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Cotera et al. (no date) Austin City Hall . Available at: http://www.predock.com/Austin/Austin.html (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Dreith , B.D. (2022) Icon and Lake Flato build 3D-printed house Zero in Austin , Dezeen . Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2022/03/04/icon-lake-flato-3d-printed-house-zero-austin/ (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

GPS My City (no date) City Walk: Downtown historical buildings walking tour, Austin, Texas , GPSmyCity . Available at: https://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/downtown-historical-buildings-walking-tour-3349.html (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Guide to Austin Architecture (no date) Frost Bank Tower , Frost Bank Tower – Guide To Austin Architecture . Available at: https://guidetoaustinarchitecture.com/places/frost-bank-tower/ (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Publicdelivery, P.D. (2022) Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin – not a chapel , Public Delivery . Available at: https://publicdelivery.org/ellsworth-kellys-austin/ (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Rojas, C. (2017) Bumble HQ “The hive” / Mark Odom studio , ArchDaily . ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/885903/bumble-hq-the-hive-mark-odom-studio?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Silva, V. (2022) Fifth + tillery office building / gensler , ArchDaily . ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/985228/fifth-plus-tillery-office-building-gensler (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

texascapitolhist3317  Architectural style , Architecture of the Texas State Capitol by Sharon Farrow . Available at: https://texascapitolhist3317.weebly.com/architectural-style.html (Accessed: December 11, 2022). 

Architecture In Austin: 15 Uniques Buildings Every Architect Must See - Sheet1

Sara is a final year student pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Pakistan. As an Urban Design enthusiast, her main interest lies in identifying the relationship between sociology and architecture. She believes that exploring rich dialogues between people and the environment are the catalysts for fostering healthy solutions to adversities.

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Architecture tours return to Austin this summer

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architecture tour austin

Just in time for summer, the Chicago Architecture Center is reopening its doors with all-new and updated exhibits which include 10,000 square feet of gallery space full of scale models and building designs.

The CAC has already kicked off the season with the launch of several walking tours, including a monthly tour in the Austin neighborhood.

Visitors on the monthly Austin tours will walk through Austin’s historic Midway Park and surrounding neighborhood and learn about late 19th and early 20th century houses, schools and store fronts.

Notable architects featured on the tour include Frederick Schock, William Drummond and Dwight Perkins. In addition, Austin community members will share their stories of the ongoing work to revitalize the neighborhood after a long history of discriminatory housing policies, disinvestment and other challenges.

architecture tour austin

CAC docent and Austin resident Karen Clapp is excited to bring architectural tours back to the neighborhood she calls home.

“We’re building on the legacy of tours that happened here back in the late seventies and eighties,” Clapp said.

Called the Austin House Tours and sponsored by the Austin Schock Neighborhood Association, the tours in the 1970s and 1980s took place in the neighborhood named after the noted architect Frederick Schock who lived and designed in Austin.

Since those tours, there was an occasional special tour of Austin, but the CAC, then known as the Chicago Architecture Foundation, did not have a set tour in the area for years.

In 2018, the CAC’s Open House Chicago event included a few buildings in Austin, and Clapp noticed a large number of people coming into the neighborhood.

“I turned to my husband and said, ‘It’s great that there are people here today, but I want more people to come here more regularly,’” Clapp said. “I felt our arts institutions in the city needed to have more of a permanent presence on the West Side.”

Clapp, who has been a docent with the CAC for roughly 20 years, began to design a tour of the neighborhood, and says it took almost two years to put together. Completed just before the pandemic halted tours last year, the Austin tours are finally finding an audience this summer.

The Austin area is architecturally rich, and Clapp says that the name Schock has particular significance.

“Much like Frank Lloyd Wright lived in Oak Park and designed a lot of homes in Oak Park, and George Maher lived in Kenilworth and designed a lot of homes there, Frederick Schock lived in Austin and designed a lot of homes and public buildings there,” Clapp said.

architecture tour austin

Tour participants will see Schock-designed buildings as well as works by noted architect Dwight Perkins, who Clapp says designed a lot of schools in Chicago. They will also see a building designed by architect Alfred Alschuler, who designed the K.A.M Isaiah Israel Temple in Hyde Park and the now-demolished Chicago Mercantile Exchange Building.

Clapp says that there are numerous layers to unfold. Four of the Schock houses are national landmarks, there are two national historic districts in Austin and many of the individual homes have been designated as significant.

“From an architectural and historical perspective, this little pocket of West Austin is actually pretty rich,” Clapp said.

Beyond architecture, the tour will cover the history of the Austin neighborhood, from its development to its annexation into Chicago to the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, which saw red-lining and block-busting in the area.

Clapp notes that the history is important but so is the current state of the neighborhood.

“There’s a lot of great, wonderful things happening here now, and we’ll talk about that as well,” she said.

 After living in Austin for 20 years and raising her family there, Clapp is eager to showcase all the things that make the community special.

“I have a lot of passion about the invisible force field that is Austin Boulevard,” Clapp said. “I’m excited to share the beautiful places that are here and the beautiful people that are here, the depth architecturally and humanly. There are things here that maybe aren’t fancy or shiny but are wonderful.”

Before you go

The Chicago Architecture Center’s tours of Austin take place one Sunday a month at 2 p.m. and last about two hours. Upcoming dates include June 20, July, 18, August 22, September 19 and October 24.

All tours are led by docents, and each tour will feature one homeowner who will speak about their house. Tours are outside. Due to current COVID restrictions, tours are currently limited to 12 people. Masks are required.

Tickets cost $30 for the general public, $15 for CAC Basic Members and are free to Donor-Level Members. Tours leave from the fountain at the east end of Midway Park, 5701 Midway Park.

More information and online ticket sales can be found here .

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2023 AIA Austin Homes Tour

October 28, 2023 - october 29, 2023.

One of Austin’s premiere fall events, the 37th Annual AIA Austin Homes Tour is back. The self-guided, curated tour showcases new builds and newly renovated homes designed by local, best-in-field architects. This year’s program features nine homes, the work of award-winning firms: Furman + Keil Architects, Bercy Chen Studio LP, Murray Legge Architecture, Bullock McIntyre Studio, Nicole Blair, Franke:Franke Inc., Matt Fajkus Architecture, McCollum Studio Architects, and Moontower Design & Build.

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Tour an Austin, Texas, Home Where Stunning Modernism Meets Traditional Design

By Laura May Todd

Photography by Douglas Friedman

Tour an Austin Texas Home Where Stunning Modernism Meets Traditional Design | Architectural Digest

It can be said that a historic house is only as good as its bones, but oftentimes, it takes a little digging to find them. Such was the case for Carrie and Robert Hicks, who found their dream home in the form of a Tudor-inspired house built in 1926 in one of Austin’s oldest neighborhoods.

“We first fell in love with the location and the great big front yard. It was just a really wonderful space,” recalls Carrie, an interior designer who cut her teeth in New York and West Hollywood before settling down in Texas. The house had been through many hands in the nearly hundred years before the couple, who have three young children, took possession in 2015. Layers upon layers of misguided renovations had taken their toll. “The bones were there, and the structure was there, so the idea was to bring in Paul to save the historic 1926 house,” she continues, referring to architect Paul Lamb , who was in charge of the remodel.

But perhaps Lamb sums it up best himself: “You know that story about inheriting grandpa’s axe?” He inquires in his soft Texan twang. “First, the handle gives out, and he replaces the handle. Then, a couple of years later the head gives out, so he replaces the head. But it’s still grandpa’s axe.”

Despite the decades of successive remodels, they were determined to preserve the home’s original charm and also channel a modern feel. “What really caught my attention was that they liked the feel of this Tudor house, but Carrie’s favorite architect is Mies van der Rohe,” Lamb explains of conversations they had in the early stages of the design process. His solution was to preserve the existing structure and build a Mies van der Rohe–inspired addition. They decided on a minimal steel and glass volume that sits atop brick columns and protrudes from the back façade. “I love that kind of challenge,” Lamb says, “trying to make opposites talk to each other.”

Inside, the architect opened up what he describes as a “rat’s nest of rooms,” to create a naturally flowing floor plan centered around a grand entranceway, which, he says, references the clean lines of Modernist villas. From there, the entryway leads to the dining room, where Carrie mixed contemporary pieces with eighties icons, like a Memphis-era Ultrafragola mirror by Ettore Sottsass , which looks over an asymmetrical Collection Particulière dining table, Rose Uniacke Hoof console tables (whose legs resembled horses’ hooves), beige-toned Puffball sconces by Faye Toogood , and a vintage crystal chandelier.

“I really wanted the house to have a mix of art, design, and real life,” she says of her mission for the house. “But we have three kids, a dog, and a busy life, so we wanted the space to be usable but still fun.” In the first floor living room, that meant pairing a plush custom sofa—perfect for family game nights—with eye-catching vintage pieces, like a shiny and streamlined Marc Newson Orgone chair from the ’90s and a midcentury wood armchair by Guillerme et Chambron . Covetable art by Ed Ruscha—whose turmeric-colored painting hangs above the hearth—and work by Dutch photographer Hendrik Kerstens was also added to the mix.

However, when friends are over, Carrie admits that “people are drawn to the kitchen—it’s really the heart of the house.” It’s no surprise why. Located in the new extension, the room’s floor-to-ceiling glass walls open up onto the sprawling backyard. “It was a free, big space that we could dream up however we wanted,” she says. That meant lining the walls and countertops with green-tinged Paonazzo marble, installing sleek custom stainless steel cabinetry from Balthrop, and illuminating it all with a gridded overhead lighting system by Italian brand Flos . The bright and airy kitchen also shares a space with the home’s less formal family room, where Carrie arranged an RH Cloud sofa amongst an eclectic mix of vintage stools and side tables.

Even though the main floor is prime real estate for entertaining, the upper level is “the family’s private space,” according to Robert. At the top of the curving staircase is a small seating area where the family winds down in the evening, complete with cream-colored Cameleonda sofas by Mario Bellini , set against a stained walnut accent wall that doubles as a discreet entertainment center and storage space. Directly behind the sitting room is the spa-like primary bathroom, which takes advantage of the glassed-in new extension to offer a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding neighborhood (though a remote-controlled louver system ensures privacy). Adjacent is the primary bedroom, situated in an upper corner of the house, where Lamb created a vaulted ceiling by extending the height of the room into the attic.

“What I love about this house is that there isn’t much space that doesn’t get used on a daily basis. And that was a real goal,” Carrie says. She notes that her mission for the home—as a meeting place for family, friends, and good design—has been fulfilled. “Growing up, I had the white living room that was off limits, and we didn’t want our home to be like that.”

stairs dog

Lamb mined the work of Modernist masters like Le Corbusier and Mies van Der Rohe for inspiration in designing the entranceway staircase. “Modernist architects just love the staircase,” he says, “because that’s where all the action is.”

Furniture Chair Living Room Room Indoors Table Rug Interior Design and Couch

“We want our kids to grow up surrounded by art that exposes them to different perspectives and ignites conversations,” Carrie says of the decision to fill the home with covetable works of art. “Ultimately, we wanted a space that was unique and collected without feeling too precious.” The Hickses turned to art advisor Katharine Barthelme to help them hone their collection, which includes a turmeric yellow Ed Ruscha canvas and a portrait by Dutch photographer Hendrik Kerstens of his daughter. Both of them hang in the formal living room.

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dining room

In the formal dining room, Carrie embraced furniture in an eclectic mix of styles and eras, including an asymmetrical dining table by Collection Particulière for Lawson-Fenning , a pair of Hoof tables by Rose Uniacke, Puffball sconces by Faye Toogood, and Ultrafragola mirror designed in the 1980s by Memphis founder Ettore Sottsass. On the left wall is a photograph of Berndnaut Smilde’s Nimbus , and on the right is a Pop art painting by midcentury Hungarian artist Victor Vasarely.

kitchen

Carrie and Lamb took advantage of the extra space afforded by the home’s new extension to create the family’s dream kitchen. They contrasted the stark black Flos lighting system and custom stainless steel Balthrop cabinets with soft white-and-green-tinged Paonazzo marble quarried in Tuscany, Italy, which they used for the countertops and to line the walls. The kitchen table is Alma Noce by Pietro Russo, the chairs are from Design Within Reach , the counter stools are Thomas Hayes , the sconces are vintage Jacques Biny, and the lamp is Ludmilla Balkis for RW Guild .

kitchen dog

Another look inside the kitchen.

dining room

The Hickses dedicated a corner of the spacious eat-in kitchen to an informal sitting room, which allows the family to spend time together while cooking and preparing meals. The sofa is RH , the side table is John Dickinson, the ottoman is vintage Sergio Rodrigues , and the stools are vintage cast bronze.

stairs dining area

The second-floor alcove is referred to as The Lookout by the family. “Depending on who you ask in the family it has a different purpose,” Carrie says. “I like it as a place to do puzzles. My daughter likes [to use it as a] theater—it’s her stage.” The table is from CB2 , the bench from Sawkille , and the chairs are by Harry Bertoia .

Furniture Living Room Indoors Room Interior Design Couch Ottoman and Rug

The upstairs sitting room is where the Hicks family unwinds at the end of the day. Situated in the home’s new extension, architect Paul Lamb designed a walnut wood accent wall that hides an entertainment center and storage system. The sofas are Camaleonda by Mario Bellini, the stool is from Lumber Club Marfa, the side tables are by Design Freres , and the lamp is 1960s vintage from Denmark.

Furniture Table Chair Coffee Table Wood Living Room Room and Indoors

Lamb lined the walls of the home office, which the family refers to as The Library, with custom-stained oak paneling in charcoal gray produced by Hewn in Austin . The desk is a vintage aluminum World War II campaign desk found on 1stDibs , the sofa is John Derian for Cisco , the coffee table is by Amy Meier , the barrel back desk chair is vintage Jean-Marc Frey, the sconces are Apparatus studio, the pendant is Murano glass by Siru Illuminazione, and the lamp is Oluce Atollo .

Furniture Couch Chair Housing Building Indoors Cushion Room and Pillow

Lamb created a vaulted ceiling from extra space in the home’s attic for Robert and Carrie Hicks’s bedroom. The bed is custom, with upholstery from local textile company Briley’s; the bedside tables are by Rose Uniacke ; and the reading lights are by Apparatus . Carrie also sourced the Amelia Tarbet floor lamp from the Round Top antiques fair and several of the vintage pieces on 1stDibs , including the Arno Declercq ottoman, the vintage table, and the pair of armchairs, which are Danish from the 1940s.

Furniture Plant Chair Indoors and Table

The primary bedroom’s walk-in closet has a vintage Amelia Tarbet chair sourced from the Round Top antiques fair.

Interior Design Indoors and Furniture

The primary bathroom is set in the home’s modern extension. Lamb installed automatic louvers on the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which allows the Hickses to enjoy the view from the freestanding soaker tub in complete privacy.

bedroom with bamboo blinds

One of the children’s bedrooms. The bed is the Balboa Bed by Serena & Lily , the side table is CB2 , the reading lights are Schoolhouse Electric , the ceiling light is Roll & Hill , the settee is John Derian for Cisco Brothers, the cactus lamp is vintage Amelia Tarbet, and the wallpaper is Pampa by Pierre Frey .

bedroom

In another bedroom of one the three children, the bed is the Webster Bed by Serena & Lily , the bedside table is West Elm , the pendant light and rug are from IKEA , the linens are Wildflower Organics , and the photographs are by Kate Holstein .

bathroom

The bathroom is a shared affair between two of Robert and Carrie’s sons. The mirrors are from West Slope Round , the sinks are Waterworks , the lamp is Danny Kaplan , the chest is vintage, and the photograph is by Kevin Sweeney.

powder room

Carrie paired a bold and black-and-white patterned wallpaper by Porter Teleo with a marble counter and lighting by Michael Anastassiades in the first-floor powder room.

house

During the construction process, a lot adjacent to the home came up for sale, so the Hickses purchased it in order to extend the garden to allow for more green space and a swimming pool for Texas’s hot summer months.

Building Housing Villa House Hotel Tree and Plant

A closer look at the swimming pool.

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36 Hours in Austin

By Shannon Sims Updated Feb. 29, 2024

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A view of a short dock stretching out over a calm body of water during the daytime. A small boat rests at the end of the dock. A bridge runs across the water, and on one side of the bank are tall buildings.

“Keep Austin weird” is the decades-old mantra in this capital of live music, colorful characters and, of course, Texas. But Austin, now the country’s 10th-most-populous city, is looking very different: Tesla Cybertrucks are pulling up beside pickups as this college town, home to the University of Texas, just keeps growing. South by Southwest , the signature music festival and conference, starts March 8, but any spring or autumn weekend is an invitation to fall in love with the city. Admire the skyline from a kayak on Lady Bird Lake, treat yourself to barbecue (it’s Texas, after all), and spend an evening carousing Sixth Street until you find your crowd. But whatever you do, for the love of Willie Nelson — one of those colorful Austin characters — start each morning with a breakfast taco.

Recommendations

  • Lady Bird Lake is a waterway in the heart of Austin where visitors can enjoy the skyline from a kayak or paddle board.
  • South Congress Avenue abounds with places to shop for cowboy hats, boots and vintage accessories to complete an Austin look.
  • Barton Springs Pool is a spring-fed public swimming pool that stays at around 70 degrees year-round.
  • Zilker Metropolitan Park , Austin’s big central green space, features jogging trails and natural springs.
  • Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is a prime spot at dusk, from April to October, to watch a giant resident colony of bats take flight.
  • Sixth Street is one of Austin’s party zones, with bars and live music for every taste.
  • Mount Bonnell , one of the highest points in Austin, is a great place for a panoramic view.
  • The Bullock Texas State History Museum gives an overview of Texas’ past through exhibitions and films.
  • Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail winds along the banks of the Colorado River near downtown.
  • JuiceLand , a local chain, sells fresh smoothies, juices and açaí bowls.
  • Dai Due is a high-end East Austin restaurant that turns out top-notch New Texan cuisine and specializes in wild game.
  • The White Horse has a dance floor that’s the best place to test your Texas two-step skills.
  • Veracruz All Natural is a female-owned local chain turning out some of Austin’s best breakfast tacos.
  • Bouldin Creek Cafe combines a vegan-friendly menu with neighborhood charm.
  • Jo’s Coffee offers iced coffee, breakfast tacos and live music. The “i love you so much” mural on the cafe’s outside wall attracts even non-coffee drinkers as well.
  • Amy’s Ice Cream , a brand founded in Austin, is known for its Mexican vanilla flavor.
  • Odd Duck is a South Austin restaurant with friendly service that started as a food truck.
  • Donn’s Depot , a groovy dive, offers live country music and a multigenerational dance floor.
  • Ego’s is a late-night karaoke bar inside a parking garage.
  • La Barbecue , a female-owned restaurant in East Austin, serves brisket and pork ribs worth lining up for (although a handy order-ahead option lets you bypass the wait).
  • Allens Boots is a longstanding, family-owned store on South Congress Avenue with a vast selection of cowboy footwear.
  • Heritage Boot Co. , in South Austin, designs its own high-end cowboy boots.
  • Feathers Vintage sells trendy secondhand fashion, from used coveralls to Valentino sweaters.
  • Maufrais lets people customize their own cowboy hats.
  • The Line ’s prime location means that many of its rooms — and its pool — overlook both the Colorado River and the Congress Avenue Bridge. There is also a Veracruz All Natural stand in the lobby, so you can get delicious breakfast tacos without changing out of your slippers. Rooms start at $215.
  • Austin Motel on South Congress Avenue is easy to spot thanks to its iconic, phallic neon sign that reads, “So close yet so far out” — an accurate description of the proximity to downtown and the hip vibe of this redesigned motor lodge with a heated pool and a courtyard perfect for predinner drinks with fellow travelers. Rooms from $203.
  • Heywood Hotel , a restored bungalow in the heart of East Austin, is an understated antidote to the area’s corporate short-term rentals. It has an affable front-desk staff and seven guest rooms, some with balconies and skylights. Rooms from $199.
  • Short-term rentals are everywhere in Austin, especially in the most walkable parts of town, like downtown, around South Congress Avenue and near the University of Texas campus. Or try East Austin for a more eclectic area with both down-home Mexican bakeries and chic designer shops.
  • Austin is smaller than Houston or Dallas, but driving or using a ride-hailing app like Uber is still the easiest way to get around. Many of Austin’s highlights — like Zilker Park, South Congress, downtown and East Austin — are within about 20 minutes’ biking distance. You can rent bikes through the city’s bike share program, MetroBike ($12.99 for 24 hours). The public bus system, CapMetro , is also efficient and easy to use ($1.25 a ride).

People in kayaks paddle on a calm body of water surrounded by banks with trees and bushes growing.

More From 36 Hours

Have a weekend to explore a destination we’ve got the perfect travel itinerary..

Paris: A different side of the French capital reveals smaller museums, under-the-radar spots in Montmartre and a diverse performance scene .

Montreal : Climb a mountain, wander the waterfront and enjoy a smoked-meat sandwich  in a city with a surprise around every corner.

Cartagena: With a limonada de coco in hand, explore two walkable neighborhoods over a weekend  in this coastal Colombian city.

Glasgow:  Take in Gothic architecture, green riverside walks and a global banquet  in Scotland’s largest city.

Chicago:   ​​ Cycle miles of urban trails, tour a restored Frank Lloyd Wright masterwork and catch golden hour  along Lake Michigan.

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360 degrees of atx

This one-of-a-kind architecture tour shows locals and tourists a new way to view austin.

AO Tours

AO Tours has been the leading tour company in Austin since 2003.

It's time for local architecture buffs to put their skills to the test. A new bus tour is showing locals and visitors a new view of Austin through the lens of the city's art and architecture.

The new excursion by tour experts AO Tours takes up to 14 people on a cruise through downtown and Central Austin to explore several different architectural styles in the city, such as Gothic, Greek Revival, and Moderne.

According to their website, AO Tours has been the leading tour company in Austin since 2003. They offer many sightseeing trips around Austin and the Hill Country.

"Our team is made up of the most knowledgeable Austin tour guides in the industry," their website says. "We know the area and our professional guides are both insightful and entertaining throughout the experience."

Guests on this new tour will get to see all of the city's unique art and architecture from the comfort of a convertible-top bus, with plenty of AC to go around in the brutal summer heat.

A few of the architectural and artistic gems that will be spotted on the two-and-a-half-hour tour include:

  • The State Capitol
  • Willie Nelson statue
  • Kempelen's Robotic Owls
  • The Austin Central Library
  • Neill-Cochran House
  • The Seaholm District
  • The Independent
  • Barbara Jordan Statue
  • Clock Knot Statue
  • Elizabet Ney Museum

The tour will also drive through some historic Austin neighborhoods to admire the Victorian-style homes.

More information about the new Art Studio and Architecture Tour can be found on aotoursaustin.com .

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Artists opposing u.s. military actions in palestine pull out of sxsw.

It's a yearly tradition: South by Southwest approaches and artists tap into gripes and grudges about the corporate wizard behind the curtain. Some of those hesitations are rearing their heads again, but the new issue turning artists against organizers is war profiteering.

A small (but doubtlessly growing) group of artists have pulled the plug on their official 2024 appearances, citing the conference's ties with the United States Department of Defense and the weapons manufacturer formerly known as Raytheon (in part via RTX Corporation subsidiary Collins Aerospace ). Criticism of this country's military industrial complex has reached a fever pitch as the White House continues to back Israel's 150-day-plus bombardment of Palestine, using weapons made in and bankrolled by the U.S.

Ella O'Connor Williams, a.k.a. Squirrel Flower, has spearheaded a small chain reaction on social media. The Chicago-based solo artist posted a series of slides on Instagram detailing her dissent. She shared that she will still be playing unofficial shows, and encouraged other artists and venues to follow her lead. At the time of this article's writing, the post has garnered more than 8,000 likes and a long thread of overwhelmingly — if not completely — supportive comments.

"nooo ur gonna miss out on the Million Dollar Weekend: The Surprisingly Simple Way to Launch a 7-Figure Business in 48 Hours panel discussion," wrote one commenter, with heavy sarcasm.

"I have decided to pull out of my official SXSW showcases in protest of SXSW’s ties to the defense industry and in support of the Palestinian people," wrote Williams on March 4. "There are many ways SXSW is harmful to working musicians, but I am pulling out specifically because of the fact that SXSW is platforming defense contractors including Raytheon subsidiaries as well as the US Army, a main sponsor of the festival."

It's no secret — although it may not have reached the status of common knowledge, either — that since official showcases are so low-paid , they're really only worth playing for exposure, wristbands, and networking. This was part of Williams' complaint, but not the reason she ultimately bowed out.

Williams pointed to the ruling by the International Court of Justice that it is "plausible" that Israel has acted in violation of the United Nation's Convention on Genocide. It will take further rulings for the court to decide if Israel is guilty of genocide.

"A music festival should not include war profiteers," Williams concludes. "I refuse to be complicit in this and withdraw my art and labor in protest."

In a cruel irony, music festivals surround this conflict — at least in Austin. The October 7 attack by Hamas, the militant group that serves as Gaza's de facto governing body, infamously happened at an Israeli music festival. People outside of Austin may not realize the local parallel, although many city residents were hyperaware: At least tens of thousands of festival-goers here were streaming in for Day Two of Austin City Limits Music Festival as the news from overseas unfolded.

Among the artists that have followed Williams' lead or had similar ideas — Eliza McLamb, Shalom, Proper., The Curls, Merce Lemon, and Greg Freeman, according to a document shared among community organizers — is Austin band Mamalarky. In their Instagram statement, the band paid tribute to Aaron Bushnell, the San Antonio-based U.S. airman who self-immolated outside the Israeli Embassy in protest of the war.

"In remembering the 30,000+ Palestinians, many of whom having lost their lives to American weapons, in remembering active military member Aaron Bushnell who was moved to self immolate in protest of this ongoing genocide — this is a very easy decision to make," says Mamalarky's announcement.

Halfway through the business day on Tuesday, March 5, the band were still waiting to find out how their withdrawal will be processed, they explain in messages to CultureMap. It was as easy as sending an email, they say. SXSW has already updated the schedule; Mamalarky no long appears on it.

"[The decision to pull out] was pretty immediate after seeing Squirrel Flower and Shalom's posts, which speaks to the power of collective action!" the band writes. "[We] think artists should definitely still play local shows outside of SXSW and benefit from the support of fans and the Austin community at large. I'm most excited to see the sets of unwaveringly pro-Palestine, antiwar artists next week."

Architecture. Design. Art.

TOUR THE HOMES LIVE AND IN PERSON!

The 2023 austin modern home tour.

image: Andrea Calo

How It Works

01 click here to get your tickets, 02 watch for your tour map.

About 48 hours before Tour Day, watch your email for a printable PDF map and info packet, as well as links to a dynamic online map for easy navigation.

03 Visit the Homes on Tour Day

Travel at your own pace as you visit the homes in any order you wish between 10 AM and 6 PM on Saturday only. Sunday extension homes open 10-4 PM Sunday only.

04 Preview The Homes Below!

Explore the 2023 tour homes.

Showcasing Amazing Examples of "Modern" Austin Today!

Studio Momentum Architects + Newcastle Homes

Newcastle Homes and Studio Momentum worked closely with the owners to achieve a gallery-like space, flooded with natural light. The home is a single story with two wings enclosing a large, private outdoor courtyard. One wing serves as the primary suite, while the other hosts guest suites, both meeting at a core great room with soaring ceilings for living and dining. Studio Momentum’s architectural skill and Newcastle Homes’ building expertise created a truly client-driven project that captures the art, light, natural environment and clean, uncluttered aesthetic of the owners.

images: Atelier Wong Photography

Joseph Design Build

Guided by timeless tenets of interconnectivity, and informed by Joseph Design Build’s unique approach to Austin-inspired modernism, The Gibson Residence is a harmonious haven of careful balance.

images: Andrea Calo

Tornbjerg Design

The home was designed for a family with a passion for architecture and design. After considering many potential properties, a challenging site in Cat Mountain Estates was identified. The property was beautifully set amid mature oak trees and, by city standards, undeveloped surroundings. The natural slope of the lot posed a unique challenge.

images: Travis Baker with Twist Tours

Thurman Homes

While Thurman Homes has been a fixture of the Austin Modern Home Tour for years, this year marks their first tour home built in Whisper Valley. Thurman Homes selected the location to offer a truly unique energy saving feature: it is the only subdivision in the United States where every home is heated and cooled by a geothermal grid. Whisper Valley’s shared infrastructure approach to conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency lends a holistic approach to community unmatched anywhere in the world. If you are going to build modern, it just makes sense to build in a cutting edge community.

images: Thurman Homes

coXist Studio with smartDigs Austin

The Sculpture Residences are situated overlooking Dimension Gallery Sculpture Park. The design was inspired by Tom Bandages’ sculpture, Functor No. 4, which resides in the adjacent park. This juxtaposition can be seen in the elevations of the Main house and ADU facing the park.

images: Leonid Furmansky

Workshop No. 5 with Mosier Luxury Homes

The Burney Residence is designed as a contemporary single family home with a butterfly roof. Intentionally visualized to fit the scale of the neighborhood while creating a hard to miss facade. The three volumes starting at the garage creates a slow crescendo towards the two story volume.

images: Robert Gomez

Moontower Design Build

All the features of new construction with the architectural DNA of the original bungalow. Moontower provided architectural, general contracting, and interior selection services short of soft goods on this Central Austin home while despite being 99% new construction preserves the architectural scale of the street set by the original 1947 home.  

images: Erin Holsonback – “An Indoor Lady”

Verde Builders Custom Homes

Description Coming Soon!

images: Twist Tours | Travis Baker

Charles Di Piazza Architecture

Dogtrot House is located in the historic Heritage Neighborhood, a walkable community characterized by the modest sizes and simple shapes of 1920s bungalows, and in close proximity to public parks and transportation links. With self-initiative, a neighborhood resident turned activist-developer purchased the property and asked for a design that acknowledges the efficiency of bungalows while simultaneously addressing some deficiencies of the type such as dark interiors and little continuity with the hosting lot.

images: Ibai Rigby

Revent Builds

Envisioned by Revent owner, John Gioffre, and constructed by Revent Builds with architecture and interior design from Joseph Design Build, this home incorporates Victorian design elements inside and out while embodying modern building technology for energy efficiency, smart home capability, and long-lasting construction materials and methods.

Intexure Architects + Boxprefab

As an architect-led prefab ADU this project provides efficient modern living in just 900sf. As a two story home the footprint helps preserve backyard space including deck and pool areas. Designed to be set against the corner of a lot, the pivoted second floor creates additional outdoor space on the second floor and a covered outdoor space on the first floor. The ADU typology allows homeowners to add extra living space and value to their property by utilizing their backyard, adding needed density and housing solutions to the urban environment while helping preserve the original neighborhood fabric.

images: Jamie Leasure / MA+DS

Render ATX (formerly ESS Design+Build)

The Hyde Park Revival , a nearly century-old, mission-style stucco home in Hyde Park, neighboring Commodore Perry Estate, underwent a whole home restoration in homage to the surrounding historic neighborhood. Originally a duplex, the homeowner sought to transition it into a single unit, utilizing the full square footage of the building envelope. Render ATX managed the turnkey design+build, embarking on a whole house contemporary restoration to increase living space, add natural light, and maximize functionality with the latest aesthetic & home performance updates. The home boasts beautifully crafted clay imports tile & custom full overlay Italian cabinetry. Render ATX took great care maintaining the original stucco masonry exterior while replacing all windows and doors. The nearly 100 year old original white oak floors were restored and paired with a contemporary trimless (no baseboard) finish along with trimless doors for ultimate sleek lines throughout.  Under the covers, this home also features the latest in building science technology, including a whole home dehumidifier for ultimate comfort, and the first hemp wool insulation in Austin, Texas, a non-toxic, mold-resistant and naturally fire retardant insulation material.  

Asgar Holdings

Form and mass define a harmony of proportions, reductive surfaces, and precise lines generating a reserved architecturally-significant build.   

Constructed on just under ¼ of an acre, this spanning 3,300 sqft, 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 1-story home sits securely on a pier-and-beam foundation (42 columns) which is elevated 3.5’ above grade and engineered for flood resistance. This home is defined by two elongated, staggered parallel masses bridged at the center which divides common spaces from private – this creates a sound dam from neighborhood surroundings.   

images courtesy Asgar Holdings

NEW!!! Sunday Hill Country Extention

SOLD OUT!!!!!

Tour 4 MORE HOMES on Sunday in Austin’s newest hill country hotspots like Driftwood, Spicewood, and more! These homes are NOT open on Saturday, and require an extension ticket.  See Ticketing Page for details.

Cornerstone Architects

This hill country modern home is a beautiful example of architecture that incorporates contemporary elements while blending fluently with its natural surroundings. Upon entering the 3,800 square foot home, the foyer allows for stunning hill country views and direct access to the backyard. All three bedrooms are privately located in the left wing of the home, including the master suite with its own private, covered terrace. Centered at the core of the home, an expansive great room features four sets of sliding glass doors opening to the front porch courtyard, as well as the rear outdoor living and alfresco dining space. The high, two-story ceiling with transom windows help maximize natural lighting to the space. The kitchen design includes a large, single island along with an adjacent counter serving the outdoor summer kitchen for convenient entertaining. A small study looks out to the front courtyard, while a second study located off the media room functions as a flex space with views to the backyard.

The home was designed for a retired couple relocating to the Hill Country from Houston. The clients had secured a lovely property with fantastic views. Their desire was a modern home that reflected the vernacular and material traditions of the Hill Country, and moreover took full advantage of its site. The design follows the contours of the land and stretches itself toward the view. Long and thin in plan, the house sits on a small plinth cut into the site. The cut creates an intimate space along the rear facade with an exposed limestone cliff which recalls the ubiquitous Hill Country road cut.

images: Allison Cartwright – Twist Tours

refuGe Design Studio & Kelle Contine Interior Design

The topography and existing site features posed an array of creative challenges. The terrain drops 15 feet almost perpendicular to the side property lines. Conceptually, the intent was to emotionally embrace the panoramic view of Lake Travis, while allowing the architecture to drop, diagonally to the lake access point. The lake access point is approximately 60 feet above the water’s edge. From that point, one can descend, via a stair carved into the cliff’s edge. Almost every space, in the home, has a truly spectacular view. The sloped landscape also includes specimen oak and cedar trees that frame the entry courtyard. The exterior palette is a composition of materials and basic forms, that blend with the landscape, and contrast the typical hill country sky.

images: Jake Holt Photography

Webber + Studio, Architects

Our client approached us with a newly purchased, incomplete residence. The goal was to provide responsible, sustainable, maintenance-free aging- in-place habitation responses for them as they begin enjoying retirement with their dogs, entertaining friends and family. Repurposing materials, we transformed incomplete concepts as a kit of parts, into a holistic response to diverse experiences throughout the property. Imbuing a regional and sustainable mindset, we were able to integrate native and natural materials, while employing local trades persons throughout construction. We set out to integrate living spaces, inside and outside, into the existing landscape, while introducing more habitable spaces including a covered outdoor living space, coined the Frontitorium. The clients lifestyle desire to entwine with the land was an underlining current: providing shelter from the harsh sun, provide privacy using angled screens, while still allowing for natural ventilation, and unobstructed views through and across the property into the hill country.

images: JP Morales

Let's Go On A Journey To Find Inspiration!

Tour the homes. Meet the architects and designers, and Get Inspired!  The 2023 Austin Modern Home Tour takes you inside of Austin’s coolest homes, and face-to-face with the creatinve geniuses that make them a reality!

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architecture tour austin

Home

VISIT THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

Located near the corner of Guadalupe and 22nd Street, the School of Architecture occupies four buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus : Goldsmith Hall (GOL), Sutton Hall (SUT), West Mall Building (WMB), and Battle Hall (BTL). 

You are welcome at any time to conduct a self-guided tour of our studio spaces, facilities and campus at any time, or virtually explore the UT campus.  Visitors may also schedule time for a  tour of the School of Architecture's facilities , led by a current student. 

VISITOR PARKING

Metered street parking around the school is possible but is usually very difficult to find during the semester. The closest parking lot to the school is the privately-owned Dobie Mall Parking Garage on Whitis between 20th and 21st. There are also several surface parking lots (approx. $5-$6/day) on Whitis between MLK and 21st. These are all less than a 5-minute walk. The University also has  several public parking garages and lots , but these are located farther from the School.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

At a Prospective Student Information Session, prospective students and families will learn about School of Architecture degree programs, facilities, career services, student support services, internships, and study abroad programs. The one-hour session includes detailed application process information and a time for questions. 

You may register for the School of Architecture Information Session, as well as the UT General Admitted Freshman, Prospective Freshman, or Transfer Session, on the Texas Admissions website. There are separate links to register for an  in-person information session  and for  virtual information sessions . Once on the registration page, please select the college to view dates and register for the School of Architecture Sessions. Parents and family members may also be present to hear the information and ask questions. 

SPRING 2023

Tomorrow, @rohunjararam is taking over our stories to show us what his studio got up to last month in Bogota, Colombia. <br />

Tomorrow, @rohunjararam is taking over our stories to show us what his studio got up to last month in Bogota, Colombia.

“Looking to the Future” is an exhibition of photographs by youths in East Austin and Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, presented through an interactive display at the @taccutexas Vislab.

“Looking to the Future” is an exhibition of photographs by youths in East Austin and Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, presented through an interactive display at the @taccutexas Vislab.

Tune in on tomorrow for a special student takeover highlighting Professor Juan Miro’s 2024 Studio Mexico! Architecture students @gracelevatino and @camilaveratudela will be showing us what their studio got up to in Mexico City during their week-long visit earlier this month.

Tune in on tomorrow for a special student takeover highlighting Professor Juan Miro’s 2024 Studio Mexico! Architecture students @gracelevatino and @camilaveratudela will be showing us what their studio got up to in Mexico City during their week-long visit earlier this month.

On Wednesday, Lindsey Wikstrom, founder of @mattaforma, joins our Spring 2024 lecture series to explore the role mass timber and renewable materials should pay in ensuring the planet’s survival.<br />

On Wednesday, Lindsey Wikstrom, founder of @mattaforma, joins our Spring 2024 lecture series to explore the role mass timber and renewable materials should pay in ensuring the planet’s survival.

Happy Friday 🌸

Happy Friday 🌸

In celebration of Black History Month, we’re shining a light on the life, impact, and architectural legacy of the first Black graduate of the UT School of Architecture, John S. Chase.<br />

In celebration of Black History Month, we’re shining a light on the life, impact, and architectural legacy of the first Black graduate of the UT School of Architecture, John S. Chase.

On Monday, visiting faculty members and co-founders of @iwamotoscott, Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott, join us as part of our Spring 2024 lecture series. The lecture kicks off at 5:00 p.m. in the Goldsmith Lecture Hall. Link in bio.<br />

On Monday, visiting faculty members and co-founders of @iwamotoscott, Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott, join us as part of our Spring 2024 lecture series. The lecture kicks off at 5:00 p.m. in the Goldsmith Lecture Hall. Link in bio.

Join us in welcoming this semester’s slate of visiting faculty members, including Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott of @IwamotoScott and Walter Meyer and Tricia Martin of @localofficelandscape! <br />

Join us in welcoming this semester’s slate of visiting faculty members, including Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott of @IwamotoScott and Walter Meyer and Tricia Martin of @localofficelandscape!

On Monday, the architectural historian and theorist @mario_carpo joins us for his lecture “Generative AI: Imitation, Style and the Eternal Return of Precedent and Canon in Architectural Design.”<br />

On Monday, the architectural historian and theorist @mario_carpo joins us for his lecture “Generative AI: Imitation, Style and the Eternal Return of Precedent and Canon in Architectural Design.”

architecture tour austin

The Holdsworth Center Photo by Casey Dunn.

Lake Flato Wins AIA Gold Medal 2024

The austin and san antonio-based architecture firm’s innovation and commitment to sustainability earns them the prominent award., by kiernan mccormick.

What do the Austin Central Library, the Holdsworth Center, the historic Hotel San José, Music Lane, and The University of Texas at Austin’s Visual Arts Center have in common? They’re just a few of the Austin buildings designed by architectural firm Lake Flato Architects. Although based in Austin and San Antonio, the firm’s work and impact is boundless, as proven by its most recent award.

architecture tour austin

In December 2023, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced that the firm’s founders David Lake and Ted Flato would be the 2024 recipients of the prestigious AIA Gold Medal. As one of the highest honors given to American architects, this award holds significant meaning for the founders along with Texas’s architecture industry. Prior to this year, William Caudell (1985) was the only Texas architect to win the award in its nearly 120-year history. 

architecture tour austin

The firm, co-founded by Lake and Flato in 1984, demonstrates a strong focus on sustainability, and, as explained on their website , aims to “ create restorative environments that reduce carbon emissions and enhance our understanding and relationship to the natural world.”  AIA’s eight-person jury commended the two architects for their ability to make “sustainability exciting in a way few other architects have accomplished.” 

architecture tour austin

“While Texas, a region grappling with unprecedented growth and climate change, seems an unlikely place for a firm focused on sustainability to thrive,” stated the AIA in a written announcement, Lake and Flato “have nevertheless helped clients see architecture and sustainability as inextricably linked.”

The AIA Gold Medal 2024 will be presented to the founders at the annual AIA convention in June.

architecture tour austin

Nominate Austin’s Best Architects 2024

Austin Home is looking for the area’s best architecture firms. Vote now through June 15.

architecture tour austin

The Art of Architecture: Alice Arterberry’s Design Journey

Inspired by her family of female artists and designers, Arterberry designs homes with warmth and atmosphere.

architecture tour austin

Rethinking a Landmark Home in Old West Austin

Kartwheel Studios used natural elements and textures to emphasize timeless appeal in this abode.

COMMENTS

  1. Guide To Austin Architecture

    Welcome to the Guide to Austin Architecture. A joint venture between AIA Austin and the Austin Foundation for Architecture, the Guide to Austin Architecture offers insight into the city's unique places and spaces with walking tours, texts, and images curated by local architects.We often add to the Guide to reflect Austin's many communities—check back often!

  2. Self-Guided Austin Architecture Tour

    401 Congress Ave. Considered Austin's first skyscraper this 515-foot, LEED Platinum certified building was designed by Duda/Paine and HKS Architects and completed in 2004. During construction, the Frost Bank Tower was the tallest building in the country post-9/11, and is covered in a unique mirror-like Low-e Glass Skin exterior.

  3. Art Studio & Architecture Tours in Austin, Texas

    To book an AO Tours Austin Art and Architecture Tour, you can visit the AO Tours website or call them at (512) 659-9478. Tours depart daily from downtown Austin and last approximately 2.5 hours.

  4. THE TOP 10 Austin Architecture Tours (UPDATED 2024)

    The best Architecture Tours in Austin according to Viator travelers are: Double Decker Austin Single Loop Sightseeing Tour. Austin Downtown Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours. Austin and Hill Country Sightseeing Tour. Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Local Guide. Austin Sightseeing and Capitol Segway Tour.

  5. Hop Aboard an Art & Architecture Tour for a Look Inside Austin's Modern

    Whether you're looking for a new way to explore the city or hosting guests from out-of-town on a sightseeing adventure, AO Tours provides a wonderful new way to travel around Austin and learn about our capital city's most iconic buildings. On the Art & Architecture Tour, a friendly tour captain will guide a small group around Austin in a comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes tour bus.

  6. Austin's Main Street

    The spaces that line both sides of Austin's main street exhibit a wide variety of architectural styles, preserving in physical form how ideas about buildings, cities, and people have evolved over time. To begin the tour, head to the sidewalk on the east side of the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge and walk to the center of the river's ...

  7. A Tour Of Austin's Architectural Landmarks

    One of the main architectural attractions on campus is the 307 foot (94 m) Main Tower, designed by Paul Philippe Crete and completed in 1937. At the top of the Tower is the state's largest carillon, which contains 56 bells that chime daily. Main Building, 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, Texas, +1 512 471-3434.

  8. Heart of Texas

    Due to the sprawling nature of this tour—which covers places from the western hills to south Austin—two core routes have been identified. The first half of this tour extends from Pease District Park to the Congress Avenue Bridge, runs five miles, and takes approximately one hour by bike or two hours on foot.

  9. TOP 10 BEST Architecture Tour in Austin, TX

    Top 10 Best Architecture Tour in Austin, TX - October 2023 - Yelp - Modern Home Tour, Walking Tours of Austin, AO Tours Austin, Modern Architecture + Design Society, Capital Cruises, Austin Duck Adventures, Lone Star Riverboat, Haunted ATX, Transport Yourself, French Legation State Historic Site

  10. Go Green

    With roots in Austin's own Energy Star Rating program of 1985, Austin Energy create the first green building program in the country—and the basis for the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (USGBC LEED) certification system. This Tour includes both AEGB-rated and LEED-certified places ...

  11. Architecture In Austin: 15 Uniques Buildings Every Architect Must See

    Celebrating Renaissance Revival Architecture, the State Capitol building sits in the heart of Austin. Opened in 1888, the building is a harmony of domes, columns, plasterwork, and pediments that exude classical proportions. The building creates a unique hue due to its sunset-red granite from mountains near Marble Falls.

  12. Top 10 Best Architectural Tours in Austin, TX

    This is a review for architectural tours in Austin, TX: "Great tour guide, she was engaging and knowledgeable about Lady Bird lake and Austin's architecture. The sightseeing tour is about an hour long and must arrive 30 mins early for good seating on the boat. Over all a great experience, pricing is reasonable.

  13. Architecture tours return to Austin this summer

    The Chicago Architecture Center's tours of Austin take place one Sunday a month at 2 p.m. and last about two hours. Upcoming dates include June 20, July, 18, August 22, September 19 and October ...

  14. Homes Tour: 2022

    The 2022 AIA Austin Homes Tour was incredible! We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended the Tour or contributed their time and their talents to make this year's Tour a success! Want to go behind the scenes? Watch webinars with each architect here. Homes Tour Booklet PDF here. Shows ADA accessibility of Tour Homes ...

  15. Homes Tour

    The 38th Annual AIA Austin Homes Tour is one of Austin's premiere fall events. The self-guided, curated tour showcases both new builds and newly renovated homes designed by local, best-in-field architects. 2024 Homes Tour Call for Entries. Open Feb 5 - Apr 4. To submit a home for consideration for this year's Tour, please visit the link ...

  16. 2023 AIA Austin Homes Tour

    October 28, 2023 - October 29, 2023. One of Austin's premiere fall events, the 37th Annual AIA Austin Homes Tour is back. The self-guided, curated tour showcases new builds and newly renovated homes designed by local, best-in-field architects. This year's program features nine homes, the work of award-winning firms: Furman + Keil Architects ...

  17. AIA Austin

    AIA Austin's Program Committees are the foundations from which the chapter positions itself in the field of architecture, whether through discussion, advocacy, policy making, or other endeavors. Committees initiate the majority of the chapter's programs, and are the main avenue for direct involvement with AIA Austin. View the 2024 Committee ...

  18. Tour an Austin, Texas, Home Where Stunning ...

    Tour an Austin, Texas, Home Where Stunning Modernism Meets Traditional Design ... Our website, archdigest.com, offers constant original coverage of the interior design and architecture worlds, new ...

  19. 36 Hours in Austin: Things to Do and See

    Many of Austin's highlights — like Zilker Park, South Congress, downtown and East Austin — are within about 20 minutes' biking distance. You can rent bikes through the city's bike share ...

  20. This one-of-a-kind architecture tour shows locals and tourists a new

    A new bus tour is showing locals and visitors a new view of Austin through the lens of the city's art and architecture. The new excursion by tour experts AO Tours takes up to 14 people on a cruise ...

  21. 2023 Austin Modern Home Tour

    The 2023 Austin Modern Home Tour takes you inside of Austin's coolest homes, and face-to-face with the creatinve geniuses that make them a reality! The 2023 Austin Modern Home Tour. Tour the Homes. Meet the Architects and Designers. Get Inspired!

  22. Visit

    Located near the corner of Guadalupe and 22nd Street, the School of Architecture occupies four buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus: Goldsmith Hall (GOL), Sutton Hall (SUT), West Mall Building (WMB), and Battle Hall (BTL). You are welcome at any time to conduct a self-guided tour of our studio spaces, facilities and campus at ...

  23. Lake Flato Wins AIA Gold Medal 2024

    Music Lane. Photo by Peter Molick. In December 2023, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced that the firm's founders David Lake and Ted Flato would be the 2024 recipients of the prestigious AIA Gold Medal. As one of the highest honors given to American architects, this award holds significant meaning for the founders along with Texas's architecture industry.