The 2022 Austin
Modern Home Tour

Feb 19th, 2022

Interior Design: Lauren Ramirez 
Photographer Credit: Patrick Wong 

This project is a major transformation of an existing home. The original was built in 1957 and consisted of an interesting structural frame for the lower level, consisting of Concrete masonry unit walls and piers, with inverted Concrete pans for the floor. The basement consisted of a sloped floor to deal with the natural drainage that crossed the site. The goal of the renovation was to update the home for a modern family of four, with a home office, new master suite and basement, second living area that would relate to the outdoors and a new pool. The critical structural features of the home were maintained, including a floating concrete staircase to the main entry, and a cantilevered back porch and bridge. 

The original house had a small, enclosed kitchen, with a tiny view toward the back yard. The new kitchen inhabits an addition, and the original space was changed into the new dining area. All new windows open up the view to the City Skyline to the North, with the original stone fireplace anchoring the main living area. 

An all-new master suite was added to the main floor, wrapping around the site to gain a spectacular view of the new pool and skyline. The master suite features reclaimed ship lap from the original structure as an accent wall with hidden lighting. The ship lap was also used to highlight the original structural system in the basement ceiling. 

 The basement was transformed into a second living, with kitchenette for entertaining around the pool. An addition forms a guest room and bath that also serves as a home office. 

Architect: Studio Momentum 
Interior Design: Cameron Getter Design 

Creating unique, high-performance infill homes is a specialty of Newcastle Homes and Studio Momentum. 2602 South 3rd offered many challenges, but these challenges presented an opportunity to design and build something special, so we dove right into crafting this custom AEGB 5-Star certified home, pool and casita! 

2602 South 3rd is an infill residential site in the eclectic and connected Galindo neighborhood in one of Austin’s hottest zip codes, 78704. The lot is irregularly-shaped with protected trees and challenging topography. These site constraints and the City of Austin’s infamous development code made this project very difficult, but having collaborated for over 10 years, Newcastle Homes and Studio Momentum successfully maximized every inch of this property to exceed expectations and provide maximum bang for buck without sacrificing style or performance. 

At 3,048 square feet, with three bedrooms, three full baths and a powder room, with options for up to five bedrooms, 2602 South 3rd offers maximum flexibility and value in this spacious South Austin courtyard home. The connected indoor-outdoor living and dining area centered around the designer pool makes this the perfect entertaining layout while maintaining the indoor flow that makes a convenient everyday home. 

The protected trees provide essential shade and, along with the casita, create the courtyard that unifies the indoor and outdoor living spaces, accessible from both the living room and the kitchen/dining through massive Western sliding doors. This space is designed to function as a “composed room” for living and entertaining that is centered on the custom pool. The third story provides extra room for living that can function in a multitude of ways – an extra bedroom, a studio, a media room, an office, play space, etc. Flexible spaces are a design principle for Newcastle Homes, allowing homeowners to get maximum use of a home now and in the future as families grow and change.  

For Cameron Getter Designs, the furnishings and decor design aesthetic are modern-minimalist with a touch of industrial-bohemian, and an emphasis on texture in the furnishings, artwork and light fixtures. The kitchen design drove the direction for the downstairs furnishings, as accents of black and light to medium wood tones appear throughout, creating an even amount of contrast throughout the space. Collaborating with the homeowners, the color palette was developed through their original local art, setting the tone of a soft neutral palette. The aim was to achieve a sophisticated yet livable home, perfect for both entertaining and daily life. 

Every aspect of 2602 South 3rd was carefully designed and crafted to provide a beautiful, functional, intuitive, space–the results speak for themselves! 

Architect: Garwood Architecture 
Photographer Credit: Jamie Leasure / MA+DS

The Dip Cove residence is a luxury modern oasis nestled in a cul-de-sac in the Barton Hills neighborhood. This modern home with a separate guest apartment has five bedrooms, 4-full bathrooms, 2-half bathrooms and 2 full kitchens, all on an ultra-private and beautiful .42-acre lot. 

Petrini Custom Builders and Garwood Architecture’s goal was for every aspect of the residence to surpass the quality found at any 5-star resort and spa. Integrated Miele appliances, Kallista fixtures, two steam rooms, plastered showers, European custom cabinetry and 20’x40’ infinity edge pool and spa are a few of the countless luxury amenities, materials, and finishes in this wonderful home. 

The Dip Cove residence has the perfect blend of inside/outside living. Perfectly placed, energy efficient floor to ceiling doors and windows bring amazing natural light in during all hours of the day. The family room features a two-story glass wall looking out to the 20’x40’ resort quality pool and spa. The modern, 27,000-gallon swimming pool with integrated spa has an infinity edge that runs along the entire side of the home. The tiled walls of the pool shimmer when the sun touches it.  

The sustainability and performance of build quality is nearly unparalleled. To achieve this, meticulous attention and expense is required for details that most people will never see. Executing details that aren’t visible when the home is finished is a true sign of quality. Air-sealing and insulation are at the forefront of this home’s design for ultimate comfort. The Dip Cove residence’s entire exterior and roof has 2” thick energy shield polyiso insulation. The majority of homes do not have this. The three separate HVAC and dehumidification systems have superior filtration and incredible air-sealing which provides the perfect interior climate while requiring minimal energy. Zero VOC paint, glue and materials were used as a further commitment to longstanding healthy building principals. 

The home can be as connected or disconnected as the owner prefers. A 400-amp electrical service allows for multiple electric vehicles to charge rapidly. About one mile of CAT-5e cable runs from a hidden media room to 55 locations around the residence and supports 1 gigabyte per second network operating speeds. The 55 locations include (many) exterior security cameras and ethernet connections in each room. Disconnecting entirely from Wi-Fi is an option. 

While every feature of the house could have its own highlight, it’s the level of detail throughout that sets this home apart. All interior drywall is level five finish, and this home has recessed, modern trim detail throughout. Custom European cabinetry was designed and manufactured by Austin-based Siena Custom Cabinetry for every room in the house. 

Architect: Chris Zuniga of Joseph Design Build 
Interior Design: Britney Joslin of Joseph Design Build  

This home is a masterpiece of effortless unity and understated elegance.  

Resting on a large corner lot, this breathtaking modern design takes full advantage of the natural beauty of the Bouldin Creek neighborhood. Its floor-to-ceiling windows and complementary physical elements aim to lessen distinctions between indoor and outdoor spaces, blending these separate areas into a seamless living experience.  

Like every Joseph home, the space was designed first and foremost to maximize function and livability. Our world-class architects are always focused on creating practical residences that feel as good as they look, and, as a result, the living areas were carefully arranged to promote convenience and comfort.  

The entire second floor is dedicated to an enormous primary suite, complete with an oversized bathroom spa, walk-in closet, and balcony. This intimate enclave leads directly to the third-floor rooftop deck, which itself features incredible views of the downtown Austin area.  

On the ground floor, the kitchen and living room sit clustered together to ensure easy movement and natural cohesion. There, the beautiful wall of windows provides a continual connection to the exterior, and the surrounding landscape was carefully cultivated to maximize this union.  

In many places the brick accents meld directly into the outside paneling, further emphasizing this fusion of inside and out. No matter where you stand, the flow of energy invites you to turn your attention towards the pool and backyard, and this deliberate continuity is fundamental to the design and feel of the home. 

Alongside those living spaces are the guest suite and two-car garage, which round out the rest of the lower area.  

The Live Oak project also features several luxury amenities, including an elevator, brick fireplace, and intimate backyard pool. These important features help elevate the overall quality of the home, while providing practical, everyday value.  

From a construction perspective, the project itself features a tasteful combination of high-quality glass, cedar, and brick — expertly employed to minimize unwanted distractions.  

This synergy between design, material, and space is ultimately what makes the Live Oak so unique.

Contractor/Builder: Steven Kruse 
Photographer Credit: Molly Culver

You’ll love this bright, naturally lit Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) because it’s small – but mighty! 

Sized to preserve the development potential of the front house and situated for privacy and access from the busy corner lot off Berkman Dr., this ADU was designed for Modern Electric one of Moontower’s long standing trade relationships. 

Moontower jumped on the opportunity to collaborate with an old friend and add density to this lot, adjacent to a bus route, and in a rapidly developing part of East Austin. The resulting clean lined one-story home was executed with a minimal pallet organized along a tall, white, smooth stucco wall. Skylights situated along the wall reflect light throughout both the sleeping and living spaces connected by a hall which conceals a half bath and laundry closet. Narrow windows facing East and West are contrasted by floor to ceiling glass facing a private courtyard to the North. 

Landscape Architect: Lone Star Grass and Landscape 
Photographer Credit: Robert Gomez 

A twist for the view:  

Perched on a hill in Clarksville that boasts a sweeping view of the downtown Austin skyline, this modern home was a long-awaited dream-come-true for the owners. After acquiring the land in 2017, the client interviewed many firms before landing on a design/build arrangement with Workshop No5 and Mosier Luxury Homes. The highly collaborative team of architect, builder and owner developed the three-bedroom, 3 ½ bath home to maximize the beautiful view for entertaining and create privacy for family life. 

Using the east-facing downtown view as an organizing element, the design orients views from public spaces and the owners’ suite toward the distant skyline. The house expresses a distinctly modern vibe – with a twist. Its industrial aesthetic is warmed by a material palette of stucco, wood, and Hardiboard. At the street level, the stucco volume containing the dining area – and a large window – is pushed forward, framed by Ipe-clad volumes that recede on either side and house the garage and the front entry. The modern, orthogonal ground floor box is topped by another sleek volume turned on a central axis to balance diagonally and accommodate a large upstairs balcony. Deeply cantilevered roofs for the ground level and first floor volumes help settle the dynamic structure and provide generous sun protection for outdoor spaces. 

The open concept interiors are experienced as a sequence of spaces, with living and dining engaged with the view of downtown and the kitchen oriented toward the backyard, a private sanctuary with a dining patio, outdoor kitchen, and planter boxes for the home garden. A sliding glass door creates a seamless connection and allows for easy movement between inside and out. The open kitchen’s central placement invites congregating during parties, a large circular light fixture above the island creating a visual focal point. The U-shaped island’s striking blue cabinets are encased under a sleek quartzite counter that wraps vertically down the central edge, creating an elegant, refined finish. 

A guest suite is separated from the public spaces by a sun-lit wood-clad tower that houses a floating staircase. Upstairs, the main entertaining space opens to the balcony facing downtown and is flanked by the master suite and a bedroom. A private balcony facing the backyard and anchored off the owners’ suite extends the master bath to include an outdoor shower. Ivy on the slatted wall provides full privacy.  

The collaborative design process and thoughtful choices of interior finishes and fixtures create an economical and efficient, yet completely custom solution.

Contractor/Builder: Trey Smith 
Photographer Credit: Jamie Leasure / MA+DS

Located on a quiet street in the Tarrytown neighborhood of Austin, this 3,700 square foot home maximizes a challenging lot while executing beautiful modern design. The sloping lot required ADA access, and a large heritage tree in the middle of the property presented a challenge. To accommodate the tree, a 2-car garage design was modified to an office space alongside a single-car garage with a lift. The entry leads up to a gallery space which opens to the main living/dining/kitchen area anchored by a stunning 400-gallon custom aquarium. The floating glass staircase rises above a lighted wine display and up to a sitting area atop a unique glass floor which looks down onto a small courtyard. This quiet courtyard was designed to break up the long hallway and open up the gallery space. Extensive glazing lets in ample natural light and multiple sliding glass doors at the side and rear of the home allow for easy access to the oversized outdoor living area. The outdoor living incorporates a misting system on the porch and throughout the private backyard oasis.

Despite the design challenges, this contemporary home provides comfortable living spaces with unique features while finding a niche in this traditional, yet evolving, central Austin neighborhood. 

Architect: Jair Gonzalez 
Photographer Credit: Allison Cartwright, Twist Tours 

This is a true architectural modern masterpiece designed and built by architect Jair Gonzalez’s as his personal home. No expense spared in the original construction of this exquisite, light-filled dwelling and the recent remodel/addition by current owner has taken it to the next level with the addition of a second study, outdoor cooking center, site/yard development and expansion of rooftop deck, plus additional staircase, and pneumatic elevator. The dramatic, restaurant-style kitchen with honed Carrera marble and primary bath and closet renovations are exceptional. The loft like open spaces with floor to ceiling commercial glass and expansive windows bring the outdoors inside throughout, perfecting a stunning treehouse feel. The very architectural interiors include a custom fabricated steel staircase, media center in great room, 8ft masonry fireplace, and quarter sawn white oak floors. One of-a-kind historic fixtures were thoughtfully restored and reclaimed from NYC’s Grand Central Station, as well as brass bathroom fixtures from George Gershwin’s personal home.  

Architect: Point B Design Group
Photographer Credit: Chase Daniel

Carved voids in the volume which are anchored by the masonry stair, create subtle plays with indoor and outdoor. The dining room opens to a covered outdoor space created by the plane of the second floor above. The masonry of the stair extends to the interior and is seen at the entry and the dining. Orientation for sunrise views, maximizing bang for the buck, and balancing stark modern with hill country vernacular were in the forefront while designing. perfecting a stunning treehouse feel.  

Architect: Barley l Pfeiffer