Clarksville Residence
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

Set within historic Clarksville, this residence reinterprets the Austin neighborhood’s character as a contemporary sanctuary. Designed for a modest lot, it embraces its context and transforms site constraints into architectural opportunities. Two preserved heritage oaks shape the offset massing and create a central courtyard—the home’s emotional and spatial heart. A sculptural cottage form and lantern-like roofline establish a distinctive silhouette, while Roman brick, stucco, and steel provide durability and understated elegance. Inside, pitched white oak ceilings, light oak walls, terrazzo floors, and expansive glazing bring warmth and natural light. Public spaces open to the courtyard; private rooms retreat into solid masonry volumes. Furnishings extend the architectural palette through layered textures, custom pieces, and the clients’ treasured objects. The residence blends personal narrative, architectural clarity, and artistic moments to create a timeless refuge.
“The house has quite the section. You don’t see it from the street side, but on the back side, you understand that it’s much taller. This architect is being quite careful on how massing is revealed and how things are being screened and being transparent. It’s quite wonderful.” —Everald Colas, AIA, NOMA
View full Design Awards submission

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Jobe Corral Architects
BGK Architects + Perkins&Will
Lake Flato Architects
Miró Rivera Architects
Clayton Korte
Miró Rivera Architects
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Lake Flato Architects
Perkins&Will
Agenda Architecture
Marlon Blackwell Architects
Baldridge Architects
RWA
A Parallel Architecture
LPA Design Studios
Lake Flato Architects
Perkins&Will
Perkins&Will
Beck Architecture
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Louis I. Kahn: The Last Notebook
Louis I. Kahn, edited by Sue Ann Kahn
Lars Müller Publishers, 2024
In this issue, we highlight a few of the “Best in Show” products from this year’s trade events, including the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Orlando, NeoCon in Chicago, and Clerkenwell Design Week in London.