Clarksville Housing by LaRue Architects: Revival of a Home Over 100 Years Old

Project: Clarksville Housing
Architects: LaRue Architects
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Area: 3,900 sq ft
Photography: Kasey Dann

Clarksville Housing by LaRue Architects

The owners purchased their new home in a historic and highly respected neighborhood of Austin. Built in 1915, the house was one of the few remaining structures spared from demolition thanks to a previous owner who lived in it for more than half a century. LaRue Architects spent time studying the history of the house and consulted with a historical restoration expert to help develop the project.

The home sits on a hill offering unique views of the Texas State Capitol and Austin's expanding urban landscape — a distinctive location at the intersection of the gleaming new business district and the historical fabric of one of Austin's oldest and most renowned neighborhoods. LaRue and Foursquare Builders made great efforts to preserve the historical character of the house. The team aimed carefully to restore and renovate — so that old and new now harmoniously blend into a new 3,900 sq ft home.

Process

A simple material was used: Boral siding imitates the original traditional facade on the front, while extensive glass, stucco, and metal panels create a modern rear façade. A decorative teak wood terrace is used on the porches and deck as a unifying element. The blue roof over the porch maintains connection with the area's traditions and its history as one of the oldest post-Civil War settlements west of the Mississippi. "It was important for us not to erase the history of Clarksville, and given the age of the house, we wanted to convey its history and traditions that form the foundation of this Austin neighborhood," says James LaRue, LaRue Architects.

The house sits on a steep slope which created several challenges for the planned work. The wood-frame construction was elevated nine feet above the lowest point of the lot, and the clay content in the soil — although suitable for wood-frame construction — added structural complications during renovation and expansion, including plans for a negative-edge pool and floor-to-ceiling windows. With the sloped roof and wrapping porch, the restored front façade remains in keeping with the style of the historic neighborhood. "From the street, the house looks like a good neighbor in form, scale and materials — all updated to preserve the original style. Even inside, the entry hall feels like a traditional home renovated with rich shiplap panels," says LaRue.

Additional historical details include arched railings in the shiplap entry hall, as well as restored traditional windows with original sidelights surrounding the new front door. The dark blue entry door opens to modern soft light white spaces. Bedrooms and office doors (two of the original rooms in the house) are located on either side of the entry hall, but completely hidden within the walls, simplifying guest movement from traditional to modern spaces that unexpectedly appear at the end of the foyer. The renovation effectively turned the house on its side, opening up living spaces with eastern city views that were previously only visible from the side porch. This orientation is subtly indicated in front, where a steel frame of a closed box protrudes from the living room onto the side porch. "This marks the point where old and new collide outside, a convergence that is both surprising and entirely logical," adds LaRue.

The main level contains all bedrooms and common living areas, with two staircases connecting the two new spaces underneath — a garage at one end and a new fitness room on the other. The living room, dining area, and kitchen form an open space with floor-to-ceiling windows opening to the shimmering infinity pool and deck — one of the main focal points of the home. A special wine display conceals a staircase leading from the kitchen to the garage. The stairwell walls are decorated with magazine covers from Life, brought from the original basement, celebrating the house's resilience and long history.

3D Modeling

Architects James LaRue and assistant Emily Hayden used three-dimensional architectural modeling to create a virtual tour allowing owners to assess exact views from every room at specific times of day. Ten-foot and six-foot sliding doors and four-foot transoms in the public spaces match the structural system that eliminates the need for large header caps, raising it even higher to expand sightlines. A clerestory window wraps the corner of the kitchen, bringing in southern light into the space. Loewen Windows and Doors, a manufacturer of wood-frame windows with glazing, was an important partner in creating the wide glass façade surface that smoothly connects interior and exterior spaces, offering a stunning continuous view.

-Project description and images provided by LaRue Architects