W Residence

The “site” for this project is the high-rise W Residences condominium building in the heart of downtown Austin, right above the venue where KLRU tapes the Austin City Limits music programs. Our empty-nest client was downsizing from a house that our firm designed for the family in 2006, so we already had a strong rapport and understanding of their design sensibilities. The interior designer Wendy Dunnam Tita joined the design team at the outset, and the project is a result of the close collaboration between the two offices and our very creative client. Drawing early inspiration from the work of Italian architect Carlo Scarpa, we used a series of screens and floating ceilings to define finely crafted spaces inside the confines of the concrete shell of the building. Precise detailing and extraordinary craftsmanship in waxed steel, patinated brass, plaster, travertine, and various woods create a warm, elegant retreat from the bustling downtown activity below.