AIA Homes Tour 2009

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Guest house from Mell Lawrence architects (by JH Jackson Photography)

When people talk about Austin, it's usually about how wonderfully weird it is, what a nurturing environment we have for the creative spirit, or about our sophistication in aesthetic trends compared to other cities of our size. What one rarely hears, and what is actually a reflection of the sum of these parts,

is the great variety of architects that call Austin home, and the fascinating things they build. This point was firmly made as we made our way through the American Institute of Architects 2009 Homes Tour recently.

Fourteen homes by fourteen local architects, evenly distributed around town, made up the self-guided, two-day event. The homes ranged in style from starkly modern to Texas ranch-modern to reassuringly traditional. What they all had in common was good design and top-flight construction that seemed in harmony with their surroundings. The most traditional home we saw was from Tim Cuppett Architects. Swaddled in Hyde Park greenery, the restored home has the look of a simple, early-American cabin from the street, but once inside we marveled at how well modern accents communicate with traditional elements. The most appealing (and the most dramatic) modern home on the tour comes from from the fertile minds at Alterstudio Architects. Located in Tarrytown, this new construction features an almost dream-like bathroom with a circular skylight that lends a biblical beam of light to one's personal hygiene. The facade of the home is what initially interested us, though. It is banded across the front with a covering that reminds us at first of bamboo fencing. This band folds away to reveal an amazing view. Almost all of the modern homes on this tour sport an effective combination of cold materials like glass or concrete with plenty of wood accents, lending them a surprising warmth.

The impression for us at the end of the day was that for Austin's AIA members, a house is much more than a home.