uCrane House

uCRANE is the culmination of carefully conceived concepts and quality craftsmanship, encapsulating Newcastle Homes’ guiding principles: LIVE-WORK-PLAY-PROSPER…responsibly, ATX-style!

A highly-specific custom design program guided this project from site selection through finishes and furnishings. Small footprint. Green performance. Minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic. Outsized flexible functionality. uCRANE pays homage not only to the homeowners’ heritage but also to the modern urban sensibilities found in the compact homes of European city centers.

The holistic design-build approach achieved much more than just ‘big punch in a small package.’

• 5-Star Austin Energy Green Building performance (solar panels, rainwater collection, ultra-high-performance ducted mini-split HVAC).
• Supreme accessibility (walkable to numerous acclaimed local bars, restaurants and shops; moments to UT, downtown, the Domain, and major arterials).
• Serious smart home automation (Voice-controlled/fully programmable/remote controlled Z-Wave security, audio, video, lighting, and window treatments).
• Intelligent space planning (Excellent flow, ample storage, highly connected interior and exterior living, multiple flex spaces, ideal floor plan for daily life, entertaining, and short-term rental).

Cool, clean Nordic design is warmed with natural material accents and abundant light from strategically placed glass, including select floor-to-ceiling storefront glass in key spaces. 

Outdoor living is a point of emphasis. The master features a huge balcony, complete with its own zoned audio/video. A small, private yard with a rain-fed garden and custom-designed patio set up for grilling provide another space for relaxing and entertaining. The screened-in porch off the kitchen can be for dining al fresco and carefully connects the kitchen to the carport, which was designed to flex as yet another outdoor entertaining space.

An exterior closet and custom shed provide storage for tools and toys. A central AV closet keeps equipment cool and out of the way. Carefully planned built-ins in the living room, floor-to-ceiling cabinets in the kitchen, and furniture with extra hidden storage help keep uCRANE clutter-free and very capable of storing all the homeowners’ belongings. The guest room is an office when friends are not visiting.

Packed with features, uCRANE is still very low-maintenance and cost-conscious to operate. It’s the perfect blend of detached single family-style combined with urban living in the perfect location, proving that designing and building with clear focus on more of what you need and less of what you don’t is the formula to living well.