After living on the property for five years, the owners were ready to build their new forever home and enlisted the help of Adam Lucas of ARLucas Construction Co. Adam recommended Studio Momentum Architects due to their experience with smaller inner-city lots and protected trees.

A large live oak tree inspired the site strategy of the primary home with a detached accessory dwelling unit. This move creates a courtyard between the buildings, with the tree canopy serving as an organic roof. Outdoor living spaces are formed by the two homes, including a screened porch, pool, and fire pit. The front porch and street-facing exterior pay homage to the scale and materiality of the surrounding historical context, while the interiors are modern and warm, with antique or reclaimed furniture and lighting in every room.

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Stealth House redefines the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) as a private, self-sufficient retreat within a dense urban environment. Designed for a compact, alley-access lot, this 1,100-square-foot residence transforms limited space into a light-filled sanctuary through innovative planning and material selection. 

Keeping innovation and a unique spatial experience in mind, there are no perimeter windows. Instead, two internal courtyards provide daylight, ventilation, and nature-filled views. A primary courtyard with an olive tree offers shade and cooling, reducing energy demand. A secondary aviary courtyard with bamboo plantings introduces movement and texture. Floor-to-ceiling glass and mirrors enhance openness while maintaining privacy and tranquility.

The home is a model of sustainability featuring solar panels with battery backup for energy independence; high-efficiency VRF HVAC, LED lighting, and ultra-efficient appliances. Additionally, the home uses corrugated Cor-Ten steel cladding for durability, low cost, and low maintenance. By integrating privacy, security, and sustainability, Stealth House serves as a model for high-performance urban infill housing. 

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Casa Colibri is a quiet retreat tucked into the hillside of Barton Hills. The lower level is carved into the slope to reduce visual impact and preserve the surrounding tree canopy. A plaster-coated limestone wall with a German schmear finish—referencing neighborhood materials—anchors this level and forms a privacy wall at the street, shaping a calm and grounded entry. Above, the second floor hovers lightly over the base, separated by a clerestory. At the rear, expansive glass opens to trees, a pool, and pool house. With the upper floor nestled in the canopy, the primary suite takes on a quiet, treehouse-like feel. The house lives like a modern terrarium: glassy, calm, and immersed in nature. Casa Colibri offers a layered, inward-facing way to live with the landscape—private, peaceful, and deeply rooted in its setting.

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This project is a renovation and new construction to create a home that is practical, enduring, and rooted in its wooded, sloping site. We worked closely with the clients to adapt an existing house to their sensibilities and an added guest house that balances utility and simplicity with generosity and ease.

The house renovation focused on openness and clarity. A reworked entry layout of concrete, wood, and galvanized steel supports daily life. A new dining room—glass-walled and extending into the woods—opens to terraces and gardens. Upstairs, lowered partitions in the new primary suite emphasize an unimpeded ceiling.

The simple concrete guest house opens to the pool and garden. Strategic openings animate the interior with shifting light, and a wooden box encloses utilities.

These buildings create a calm and adaptable living environment—a careful balance of elemental materials well suited to the daily patterns and future needs of its occupants.

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The Govalle Homestead is a design-build by Drophouse and Russ Design Studio that embraces the adaptive reuse of a 1938 East Austin home, transforming it into a contemporary estate with two structures to accommodate three generations of family. A variance was received for the project, requiring the design to retain the primary structure's original facade, which helped preserve the property's historical character within the community. The interior was reconfigured with an open floor plan and modern amenities tailored to the retired couple's lifestyle.

Conversely, the rear dwelling, designed for the younger family unit, presents a distinct architectural contrast to the primary structure, enriching the site's overall complexity. Strategic placement of the residence between two heritage trees maximized spatial efficiency and allowed for adaptable living areas to accommodate future family needs. Both structures exhibit a deliberate connection to the landscape. The primary dwelling features a screened porch, deck, and plunge pool, while the secondary dwelling incorporates a generous covered patio. The interior yard, equipped with an outdoor kitchen and fi replace, connects the two residences, fostering a communal living space suitable for all occasions across generations. The home, which serves as the residence of a Drophouse co-owner, exemplifies the firm's ethos of design experimentation and exploration. It underscores dedication to honoring a property's architectural lineage while enhancing its ongoing evolution.

The team included Matt Satter of Drophouse and Mari Russ-Wolf, formerly of Drophouse but now with Russ Design Studio. The team collaborated and built the home while Mari was still with Drophouse. While Drophouse continues to work on custom residential projects, it focuses on its expertise in custom metal fabrication. Mari has since opened her own firm, continuing design work and practicing architecture.

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The Valburn project is a direct response to an open-minded client and a challenging sloped site. With a degree in interior design and having lived in New York City for many years, the client requested a house that would combine many of the urban typologies he experienced during his time there. Everything from high-rise penthouse condos to lofts and even urban alleys provided design inspiration.

In contrast to other more traditional homes in the neighborhood, the house presents simple massing and a quiet face to the street. Animated by a south facing brick pattern that provides a continuously changing series of shadows, the exterior is private but gives back to the street.

The interior spaces are a contrast of large open spaces focused outwardly to the beautiful views, and more intimate, inwardly focused rooms. Additionally, the use of natural light was a major consideration of the interior spaces.

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Nestled on a spacious corner lot in Rollingwood, just minutes from downtown Austin, this home is a timeless sanctuary for a growing family. Balancing openness and intimacy, its design centers around a sunlit courtyard—a safe-haven for children, always within view of loved ones. 

A generous covered lanai connects the main house to an office and guest retreat, fostering flexibility in daily living. Operable louvered panels respond to the rhythms of life, opening to welcome the neighborhood or closing for privacy. The materials root the home in its Texas landscape: locally quarried limestone walls provide a grounding base, offering both shelter and a neutral backdrop to lush greenery, while warm, responsibly-sourced cedar siding above will weather gracefully over time. These natural elements imbue the home with warmth and character. More than just a house, this is a retreat—offering solace, connection, and a sense of permanence amid the dynamic city beyond.

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Vista Lane is a marriage of modern detailing and traditional forms. Its steep roof pushed low over the second floor mitigates the overall building height, while a select, few dormer windows expand the interior volume on the second floor and further contribute to the home’s traditional character. In general, the architecture is sharply detailed and stripped of ornament. Interior moldings were replaced with gentle curves and rolled edges which are a tip of the cap to traditional detailing, while providing a decidedly modern aesthetic.

Situated on a lot accessible by two opposite streets, the diagram is organized to restrict vehicular and ADU tenant access to the rear of the lot, while pedestrians enter from the front. A Z-shaped diagram delineates two distinct yards. One yard space at the rear for entertaining, with a pool and a deep covered porch which provides respite from the afternoon sun. The other, a public-facing space, is ideal for yard games.

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This 1981 Acorn Deck House got its start as the model home for Central Texas in an effort to expand the Massachusetts-based company’s modular home business. Although the home featured an abundance of rich textures, expansive windows/doors, and a spacious layout, it felt dated and never fully embraced its tree-lined site and downtown views.

Four homeowners later, the home now goes by the name of The Sterling Cooper Residence as an homage to AMC’s show ‘Mad Men’ and its quintessential mid-century-cool vibe, and as a way to guide the aesthetic aspirations of the two-part remodel/addition.

Phase 1, completed in 2017, focused on remodeling the interior by opening spaces, expanding the kitchen, reimagining a secondary family room, and modernizing and brightening the material palette.

Phase 2, completed in 2024, concentrated on enriching the connections of the home to its site by adding a series of exterior spaces, a floating architectural stair, and an infinity pool that juts out into the valley.

The final product is a careful balance of deck house influence and modern expression in a home that invites visitors to stay for a cocktail or two.

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In this episode, architects Annie and Arthur of Side Angle Side discuss their project, the Harvey House, a featured home on the 2025 AIA Austin Homes Tour. The firm, which they started in 2016, focuses on creating thoughtful, custom homes that respond to the environment. Their philosophy is to listen intently to their clients' needs, ensuring each project feels like the client's home, not a signature stamp of the firm.

The Harvey House project is a renovation and addition to a 1935 bungalow. The journey began six years ago with a young couple who fell in love with the historic home. Initially, the couple decided to pause the main renovation and first build and live in the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in the back. Over the years, as their family grew, they became a hub of their community, hosting friends, neighbors, and musicians. This deep connection to their neighborhood heavily influenced the final design when they revisited the main house renovation. The project became a "labor of love," focused on preserving the spirit of the original home despite significant structural issues like rot. This included salvaging and reinstalling original materials like the longleaf pine flooring and trim.The exterior features a distinct contrast between the original home's white siding and the addition's dark, burnished stucco. This was an intentional choice to differentiate the addition from the original structure. The house is U-shaped, wrapping around a central courtyard and pool, allowing the homeowners to keep an eye on their children from the kitchen. A truly unique feature is the children's attic playroom, which includes a large hammock-like net floor overlooking the den below, accessible by a red ladder. The spacious kitchen features a large blue island designed to feel like a piece of furniture. The client, Holly Beth, is an interior designer who made all the selections and has since joined the Side Angle Side team. To maintain privacy from a close neighbor, the primary bathroom features a massive skylight over the tub that floods the plaster-walled space with soft, natural light.

The project's photographer, Robb Gomez, noted that the home was a joy to shoot due to its incredible natural light. He also witnessed the family's strong community connection firsthand when the neighbors and their children came over to play and share a meal.

Don't miss the chance to experience the magic of the Harvey House and other stunning works of architecture. Join the AIA Austin Homes Tour on October 25th and 26th, 2025.

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Hamish Muir completed his design education at the Basel School of Design in 1981 where he studied under Armin Hofmann and Wolfgang Weingart. Muir was co-founder of 8vo (1985–2001), a London-based studio which established a considerable international reputation for its typographically-led work.

From 1989–1994, 8vo designed over forty exhibition catalogues and posters for Wim Crouwel as client during Crouwel’s tenure as Director of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Muir was co-editor of Octavo, journal of typography (1986–1992) which has recently been fully documented in ‘Octavo Redux’, a 342 page book published by Unit Editions. System Process Form, a 400 page exploration of their extensive Two type system developed over a ten year period was recently published by Thames&Hudson and in a special edition by Unit Editions.

Hamish co-founded MuirMcNeil with Paul McNeil. MuirMcNeil’s activities are focussed on exploring parametric systems in typographic design. MuirMcNeil received ISTD Premier Awards for their work in both 2011 and 2014.

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Stephen Collette, BBEC, BBNC, LEED AP, CAHP, BSS is a Certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant, Building Biology New Build Consultant, and retired owner of Your Healthy House, living in of Lakefield, ON, Canada. Stephen is a retired straw bale builder, having worked on two dozen straw bale structures across Ontario and Quebec. Stephen has an engineering background and became passionate about healthy housing when his family became ill due to exposure to mould. Stephen carried out a few thousand indoor environmental inspections on houses and other buildings to determine health impactors based on building science and environmental health concerns. 

Stephen Collette is also the Building Audit Manager for Faith & the Common Good. Stephen created the Green Audit after seeing an opportunity to improve the connections between faith, buildings, and the existing passion of people to want to do the right thing within their faith community. The Green Audit has been delivered to hundreds of faith communities across Canada to rave reviews. Recently, Stephen has expanded the audits available to faith communities and heritage properties to include climate disaster preparedness audit.

Stephen is a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) from Canada Green Building Council. Stephen has a Building Science Certificate from the University of Toronto and is a certified Building Science Specialist. He is a professional member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals. As a consultant Stephen helps people make more environmentally sustainable building choices. Stephen is a published author who writes and lectures across North America on sustainable buildings.

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John is an Indoor Environmental Quality Specialist with a Degree in Environmental Health Science and over 35 years of experience. 

Twenty-five years ago he coauthored a pioneering book with architect Paula Baker-Laporte and medical doctor Erica Elliott titled Prescriptions for a Healthy House: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders, and Homeowners (use code BANTA at checkout for 10% discount) also in e-book format. 

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For the last 27 years John has specialized in mold and water damage problems in buildings. He conducted investigations, and supervised crews in water damage, flood and mold remediation throughout the United States. He trained workers in restoring water damaged buildings, contaminated water clean-ups, mold remediation and worker health and safety programs throughout the United States and Canada as well as England, Australia and New Zealand.

He currently specializes in medically important investigations with 85% of his clients either being referred to him by their physician or currently undergoing medical treatment.

He is the developer of the Pathways Testing system offered through RestCon Environmental.

John's upcoming book Mold Controlled is about recovering buildings from mold and other water damage organisms, finding, avoiding and fixing problems.

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Cameron Levick has been helping organisations map out a clearer path to growth for almost three decades. His track record of success begins with some of Australia’s best known organisations in the food and beverage and telecommunication sectors - and continues with Plungie.

He helps SMEs, private equity firms, and other investors build growth paths that are simpler, more effective, and less demanding on business owners’.

Cam combines considerable expertise in strategic sales and marketing, organisational transformation, brand development, and performance enhancement, with a commitment to premium quality service, breakthrough thinking, inspiring vision, and market-leading results.

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Ben is driven by a singular, powerful mission: to serve as a catalyst for human potential. He operates on the core belief that an extraordinary life is not a matter of chance, but of intentional design, built upon a fusion of the right mindset, effective strategies, and a deep commitment to holistic well-being. He empowers individuals to move beyond their perceived limitations, providing them with the intellectual and emotional tools needed to architect a life of both profound purpose and exceptional achievement.

Through his globally recognized podcast, Ben puts this philosophy into practice. The show serves as a transformative platform, inspiring millions of listeners worldwide to actively pursue greatness in every aspect of their lives. Each episode delivers actionable insights, compelling expert interviews, and practical frameworks designed to enhance personal and professional growth. Ultimately, he guides his audience not only to reach ambitious goals but to simultaneously cultivate a rich inner world, fostering a sustainable sense of fulfillment and enhancing their overall well-being.

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Andrea Keller is a licensed architect with 25 years of experience in multifamily, residential and boutique hotel design. Her work seeks to bring people into greater alignment with their core values, their communities and the earth.

A key component of Andrea’s work lies in the life-long study of sacred geometry, symbols and pattern language. Andrea uses unique geometry and proportion systems for each project, bringing power and resonance to the design. As we know from epigenetics, our environment can literally change our genes – her mission is to use architecture for healing, activation, and amplification of personal power. She is currently designing healing centers worldwide.

She was a professor of Architecture at both USC School of Architecture and Otis College of Art + Design. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (B.A., Design of the Environment) and UCLA (M.Arch), and studied Sustainability through Gaia Education. She lectures regularly for the Institute of Classical Art + Architecture.

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Gil Stunner is an internationally recognized fine art photographer and storyteller, known for his cinematic style laced with gritty realism. A former hands-on mechanic turned visual craftsman—his motto, "From wrenches to lenses," is no gimmick. It's how he lives.

Gil’s work spans humanitarian missions in West Africa, vintage racing on East Coast beaches, and raw, emotional portraits from around the globe. His fine art prints have been featured in various magazines, Photographize’s 100 Inspiring Artists of the Year (2024) Book , Masters of Monochrome Vol. 1 (coming Soon), and showcased by Gallery Canyons, LDN Collective, and Helm + Oar.

You’ll find him wherever there's character to be captured—on the track, in the jungle, at a gallery, or somewhere in between.

1. Sierra Leone – JOKANDA

Captured during a humanitarian mission with Doctors Without Borders and the Saving Lives Initiative, this project documents strength and vulnerability in the face of adversity. JOKANDA is a raw portrait series showcasing the grace and pain of communities often overlooked.

2. The Black Cat – Rob Ida x Jaguar XK120

An homage to elegance in motion, this project documents Rob Ida’s iconic Jaguar—blending sleek automotive design with the grit of New York’s streets. A love letter to curves, shadows, and engineering perfection.

3. TROG – The Race of Gentlemen

Shot on the sand in Wildwood, NJ, this adrenaline-drenched series captures the spirit of American nostalgia—vintage metal, roaring engines, and the wild hearts who bring the past to life.

4. Guadalajara, Mexico – Celebration in Motion

Part of an ongoing study in color, movement, and joy, this project celebrates traditional Mexican dance and the beauty of culture in motion—captured mid-spin with a painterly lens.

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Richard Petrie is the world’s leading marketing coach for architects and designers, blending sharp strategy with cutting-edge AI to help creative professionals win better projects, charge higher fees, and work with clients they love. A former professional cricketer turned marketing strategist, Richard now coaches small design firms globally through his proven SIX-ai system—designed to give designers a powerful edge in an AI-driven world.

He’s known for transforming how designers approach sales and marketing, turning “referral-dependent” firms into thought leaders with predictable pipelines. When he’s not helping designers stand out, he’s probably swinging a squash racket or dodging chocolate.

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With 24 years of extensive experience in the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, Peta has developed a versatile expertise across the residential, commercial, retail, and healthcare sectors. For nine of these years, she honed her leadership and entrepreneurial skills as the Managing Director of her own architectural company. Now serving as the Vice President at Away Digital in the USA, Peta is instrumental in driving the company's growth strategy and expansion into the American market.

Peta is deeply passionate about urban innovation and creating systems and spaces that serve people's needs. Her core interests include high-quality design, sustainability, and fostering community wellbeing and health, which extends to a commitment to helping the homeless. She thrives on creating beautiful places for people to enjoy and is recognized for her exceptional business administration, communication, public speaking, and business development skills.

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With over 13 years of distinguished experience, Cory Walker stands as a highly regarded licensed commercial and residential architect based in Los Angeles, renowned for his specialized expertise in commercial adaptive reuse projects. His architectural philosophy deeply prioritizes wellness and fostering a profound connection to nature within built environments; he actively integrates natural elements into all his designs by introducing abundant plants and maximizing daylight penetration. Furthermore, Walker meticulously specifies warm and natural materials, carefully chosen to evoke a recuperating sense of the outdoors, even while indoors, ensuring spaces promote tranquility and well-being.

His extensive career is marked by involvement in numerous award-winning designs, spanning both transformative tenant improvements and impressive ground-up, stand-alone commercial office projects. This rich portfolio solidifies his reputation as an innovator in creating healthy, nature-infused commercial spaces that not only meet functional demands but also profoundly enhance the human experience within the built environment.

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