History
The West Campus Residence was completed in 2019. Alterstudio Architecture and Mell Lawrence Architects designed the structure. Architect-owners Ernesto Cragnolino and Krista Whitson developed the home for their growing family. It replaced a cherished mid-century studio apartment by Harwell Hamilton Harris. The residence achieved net-zero status.
Architecture
The residence presents a 1950s and 1960s International Style. Exterior materials include vertically clad wood and mill-finished steel panels. Extensive first-floor glazing and skylights illuminate interior spaces. Oak screens and panels articulate the rooms. The design offers inventive solutions for spatial efficiency. It accommodates a family of five within compact dimensions. IKEA cabinetry is integrated with custom light fixtures.
Setting
The structure occupies a constrained, subdivided narrow lot in Austin, Texas. It stands in the dense urban West Campus neighborhood. Mature Live Oak trees challenge the site. Zoning setbacks shaped the building's footprint. Sunlight filters through the live oaks, dappling interior spaces.
Specifications
Total floor area is 178.6 square meters (1,922 square feet). Solar panels cover two-thirds of the roof. This system contributes to the home's net-zero energy status.
In print
2022 AIA National Housing Award. 2021 AIA Austin Design Award. 2023 AIA Small Projects Award. 2021 Residential Architect Design Awards, Architecture Interiors category (Merit winner). Featured: Architizer, Architect Magazine, The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Residential Design, Dwell ("A Svelte Austin Home Enables Cleverly Compact Living," Jessica Dailey).
