Contact info:
Chris Allen
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chris@somearchitect.com

Ramsey Park project

Dramatic changes this week on this house! We're creating a connection between the two existing houses on the lot that increases the amount of outdoor space for entertaining, relaxing, or just enjoying the views over the park and toward downtown.

The original program for this project revolved around tearing down the old house in the back and doing a massive remodel on the front house. Our current scheme keeps most of what's there, which is great for the landfill, and a much more frugal option. We really like to do more with what our clients already have, rather than using bulldozers to create a "blank slate"!

Elizabeth St. project nearing completion

The remodel/addition at 711 W. Elizabeth is getting dangerously close to wrapping up. Below are some rough shots of the exterior.
We're particularly pleased at how well the house fits into the neighborhood. We proved that you can add space and livability without looming over the neighbors, which is a big issue in Bouldin, where so many houses are being altered or replaced. We stopped on the way out of the neighborhood to snap this shot that sums up the issue for many. Turns out, you CAN have enough space and express your individual style without pi**ing off the neighbors.

Quick Change!

Our friends at Momark Development have begun marketing Gabardine, and some early buyers wanted to see a four-bedroom product. On Wednesday, we transformed two of the houses from 3 to 4 bedrooms, with the same footprint, in about two hours each. New floor plan, new exterior, no sweat. They might actually be able to change one of the houses that started construction on Monday into one of these on the fly, which would be pretty cool. This image shows the rear of the house, where we added space above the garage.

What's new?

In good times or bad, we're always working on central Austin remodeling projects. With two decades of practice, we've gotten pretty good at squeezing a whole lot of house out of a very small container. We're presently working on projects in Bouldin, Rosedale, Allandale, and North University neighborhoods. Here area a few "in progress" images from some of the projects presently on the boards.

Allandale kitchen:Allandale remodel/addition:Rosedale Ave. remodel/addition:

Gabardine Cottages

Construction is underway on Gabardine!!
See more info at: www.gabardineaustin.com

This is our third cottage project with Momark Development. These are beautiful, compact, very livable freestanding homes in a beautiful neighborhood environment. An affordable alternative to suburbia!

Chestnut Commons

25 years after I worked at Featherlite Precast on Miriam Ave. in Austin, I had the serendipitous opportunity to design 64 new homes for the site as it was reborn as a neighborhood with a shiny new transit stop.

The cottages sold like hotcakes, which made sense because they were really livable, filled with sunlight from all four sides, and cost LESS than the nearby loft products.

The key to the project was a great client. Momark Development has a vision for creating "humanist housing" in Austin, and they teamed with TBG
Partners to create a great layout for the
site that maximized community space
and created social spaces that
make Chestnut a great little neighborhood
within a neighborhood.

Check it out sometime at 1601 Miriam Avenue, Austin, or online at www.austinchestnut.com

Uplifting Remodel

This was a fun one! We took a Hyde Park home and lifted it ten feet, then built a new first floor below the old house.


Ave. F "Before":Ave. F digital rendering:Ave. F "After":Here's a video that shows how builder Warren Spain of Escarpment Construction pulled off this magic trick:

"Before" and "After"

Everyone loves "Before and After" shots! Here are a few of our favorites. All were whole house remodel/addition projects with "facelifts" to make them more inviting.

Shoal Creek Blvd.:
Brentwood St.:Valley Oak Drive:

Stassney Court

On Stassney Lane near South Congress Avenue, this project has 46 reasonably priced duplex condo units.

All homes have front gardens and private back yards, and the homes incredibly bright and space efficient.