STENGER ‘56

This is a renovation and addition to an A.D. Stenger built house in the Zilker neighborhood. The original house was built in 1956, and remained mostly unchanged until our client purchased in 2009. Our design directive was to expand the footprint to include a new master suite, enclose the carport for a larger dining area, and establish a cohesive vision for the finishes based upon A.D. Stenger’s original ideas.

  • Stenger’s houses are recognized and sought after in Austin neighborhoods. They're relics of an expressive craft and renegade approach to building without governmental oversights of today's norm. In the case of this house, we love the tapered fireplace and clerestory window, exposed rafters in the living room ceiling, open trellis detail at the front, and the way the house sits just perfectly among a grove of huge live oaks. There was no question that we would preserve as much as possible, but attempt to open the house a bit more toward the backyard and expand the living spaces.

    We proposed to locate the master bedroom on the opposite side of the house to give it some privacy from the other three bedrooms and to create a more pleasant journey to the new master suite. The path leads around the dramatic freestanding stone fireplace, through the new dining room (former carport, now enclosed) which functions as a transition space. The master bedroom sits perpendicular to the main house, providing a view to the backyard landscape.

    PROJECT TEAM:

    ARCHITECTURE BY Rick & Cindy Black Architects; GENERAL CONTRACTOR Miars Construction; PHOTOGRAPHY BY Leonid Furmansky

Austin Texas AD Stenger house renovation
Austin Texas AD Stenger house renovation. Interior view of a home showing a window, a chair, and a decorative glass rack with bottles and glasses, next to a dining table with a wooden chair.
Austin Texas AD Stenger house renBright open living room with view of outdoor backyard, beige sofa with colorful pillows, glass coffee table, side chair, large sliding glass doors, wooden kitchen cabinets, and hardwood ceiling with recessed lighting.
Austin Texas AD Stenger house renovation. Bright, modern living room with stone fireplace, white walls, hardwood accents, colorful art, sectional sofa, decorative vases, and a round dining table.
Austin Texas AD Stenger house renovation. Interior view of a modern living room and dining area with large windows, a stone fireplace, and minimalist decor.
Sunlit dining room with a wooden table, six modern chairs, white pendant lights, a stone accent wall, and a white-paneled wall with artwork and a sideboard. A doorway leads to a sunroom with large windows and seating.
Modern house with large glass windows and sliding doors, surrounded by a garden with small plants, large trees, and outdoor seating.
Bright bedroom with large windows, a chair with a throw blanket, a bed with gray bedding, and framed artwork on the wall.
A bedroom with a bed, a nightstand with a lamp, and an open doorway leading to a bathroom with wooden cabinets and a window.
Modern bathroom with wooden cabinetry, double sinks, and a large mirror. Bright natural light coming through windows, with minimal decor.
Modern bathroom with wooden cabinets, a gray countertop, a white sink, a chrome faucet, and two vases with red flowers, with a window providing natural light.
Austin Texas AD Stenger house renovation. Exterior view of a house with a stone facade and large windows, with a metal framework structure attached to the roof, surrounded by green plants and trees.
Austin architect. A bedroom corner with a bed, gray pillows, a nightstand with a lamp, a clock, and books, hardwood flooring, a black and white rug, and a walk-in closet with wooden shelves and shoes.
Living room with green sofa, black and green lounge chair, white bookshelf, desk with a white chair, framed abstract black and white art, and wooden coffee tables.
Modern bathroom featuring a wooden vanity with a gray marble countertop, a rectangular mirror, wall-mounted light fixtures, and a walk-in shower with gray tiles and a glass partition.
Modern bathroom vanity with a gray countertop, wooden cabinet, round mirror, wall-mounted faucet, vase with dried flowers, and a towel holder with a striped towel.
Modern kitchen with wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, black countertops, a window above the sink, and a sliding glass door leading outside. Counter with a glass of wine, a bowl of snacks, and a piece of cheese.
Austin architect. AD Stenger renovation. A modern single-story house with stone and siding exterior, large front windows, surrounded by lush trees and a well-maintained lawn.
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