Art House: A Collector’s Haven
Elegant Efficiency
A minimal lot with maximal views provides the perfect canvas for an art collector.
Nestled within the quiet central-east Swedish Hill neighborhood off an unassuming alley lies a home that is at once modest and monolithic. A single rectangular volume of concrete masonry block rises two and a half stories, its unassuming, taut exterior exuding restraint and efficiency.
A steel balcony that doubles as a covered porch wraps two sides of the compact structure, which includes generous expanses of operable glass at its upper level that suggests a rich and colorful interior.
The home, designed by Austin-based Pavonetti Architecture, is deeply personal to homeowner Todd Piccus, an art collector and aesthete with an appreciation for industrial spaces.
Prior to purchasing the property, which was an empty lot at the time, Todd negotiated with the seller to include condo restrictions that protect his second-story views. This allowed him to have unobstructed treetop views of downtown, so he made the unconventional decision to put the bedroom on the ground floor. This design decision afforded the views to the kitchen, dining, and living room above, where he spends most of his time. The building across the alley is also one-story and a protected landmark, so he has unobstructed views to the south and east—the Moonlight Towers and surrounding East Austin.
A single run of stairs leads to the airy, daylight-filled central living space, meticulously planned to maximize the home’s small, yet comfortable, footprint. High ceilings and clerestory windows spill light into the open room, which also boasts a bonus loft space over the kitchen, accessible by ladder.
The tight dimensions of the living room required the custom fabrication of two credenzas and banquette seating, among other bespoke elements.
The home itself is poised and exactingly detailed, yet designed to be quietly upstaged by Todd’s sensitively curated collection of art and artifacts, including a custom commissioned neon sign by Evan Voyles, the chalkboard menu from Ruby’s BBQ (which shuttered in 2018), a hand-blown French glass chandelier commissioned through Bourgeois Boheme, and a front door fashioned to resemble the one greeting guests at Figure 8 Coffee on Chicon Street.
With its unique combination of utility and whimsy, Todd’s home radiates with the personality of its patron and steward: an achievement that is ubiquitous to well-designed architecture, but not often achieved in contemporary residential design.
Modern Architecture: Pavonetti Architecture, led by principal Shane Pavonetti, designs high-end bespoke and speculative projects at all scales.
Contact:
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2235 E 6th St. #107
pavonettiarchitecture.com
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