• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

TOWERS

Austin city life since 2007.

  • News
    • Condo Projects
    • Neighborhoods
  • Listings
    • Austin Condo Guide
  • Newsletter
Search
You are here: Home / News / Okay, Let’s Talk About These New Owl Statues in Downtown Austin
Search suggestions: condos for sale • rainey street

Okay, Let’s Talk About These New Owl Statues in Downtown Austin

James Rambin October 25, 2019 Comment

Whoooooo hurt you? Photo by James Rambin.

Austin Proper, the downtown Austin condo and hotel tower still under construction at 600 West Second Street near Shoal Creek and the rest of the redeveloped Green Water Treatment Plant site, already has its first two permanent residents — and they’re owls. Two 10-foot owls at the corner of West Second and Nueces Streets, to be exact:

Just in case the persistent urban legend about the Frost Bank Tower wasn’t enough for you, now downtown Austin’s got a little Bohemian Grove of its own. Hey, which one of you guys is Moloch? Image: NAPA

It’s certainly a more striking work of public art than those big concrete dog leavings over by the new Central Library, but what’s going on here? Called Kempelen’s Owls, the two sculptures are a collaborative work between the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places program and Massachusetts-based studio New American Public Art.

Photo by James Rambin.

Kempelen’s Owls, inspired by the 18th-century robotics of Wolfgang Von Kempelen, will be an interactive sculpture that fosters curiosity. Two Texan great horned owls . . . will perch atop dodecahedrons (12 sided  geometric shapes) and silently observe surrounding passers by. The interactive features of the work are hidden, awaiting discovery by visitors who can activate them to trigger movement in the owls.
— City of Austin Cultural Arts Division 

Yes, you’re reading that correctly — the owls, spooky glowing eyes and all, are equipped with hidden mechanisms allowing them to turn their heads and stare at you. Just in time for Halloween, right?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Greg Anderson (@walkableaustin)

Here’s a very complex article about some of the technology enabling this extremely interesting and mildly unsettling feature, and below you’ll find a video from the artists about the design and fabrication of the owls — they’re made from “layered metal and other composite materials,” per the studio:

The installation is also the first in the city’s Art in Public Places collection to be fully open-sourced under a creative commons license, meaning in theory you have all the resources available to build one of these terrifying things yourself.

Photo by James Rambin.

Here’s a full 3D model of the work from computer-aided design software firm Autodesk, one of the project’s main sponsors — we’re just gonna scroll it around a little and call it a day, but feel free to start putting one together in your garage if the design really speaks to you. Your neighbors will love this thing.

Latest Downtown Austin Condos For Sale

  • $1,250,000 44 East Avenue #1607
    Austin, TX
  • $2,850,000 222 West Avenue #2901
    Austin, TX
  • $1,695,000 70 Rainey Street #1908
    Austin, TX
  • $719,900 48 East Avenue #2903
    Austin, TX
  • $649,900 603 Davis Street #604
    Austin, TX
  • $2,895,000 501 West Avenue #2103
    Austin, TX
  • $769,900 48 East Avenue #1608
    Austin, TX
  • $569,000 210 Lee Barton Drive #415
    Austin, TX
  • $724,900 800 Embassy Drive #401
    Austin, TX
  • $749,999 54 Rainey Street #713
    Austin, TX
  • $2,390,000 501 West Avenue #3504
    Austin, TX
  • $4,990,000 44 East Avenue #4804
    Austin, TX
  • $2,500,000 311 W 5th Street #803
    Austin, TX
  • $2,175,000 200 CONGRESS Avenue #15F
    Austin, TX
  • $3,500,000 202 Nueces Street #2101
    Austin, TX
44 East Avenue #1607
Austin, TX
Photo of 44  East Avenue #1607, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3439383)
$1,250,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,221 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

222 West Avenue #2901
Austin, TX
Photo of 222  West Avenue #2901, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7310113)
$2,850,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
2,227 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

70 Rainey Street #1908
Austin, TX
Photo of 70  Rainey Street #1908, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5246691)
$1,695,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,434 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

48 East Avenue #2903
Austin, TX
Photo of 48  East Avenue #2903, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2196520)
$719,900
Lot Size
17,904 sqft

Home Size
641 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

603 Davis Street #604
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #604, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2434110)
$649,900
Lot Size
214 sqft

Home Size
1,136 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

501 West Avenue #2103
Austin, TX
Photo of 501  West Avenue #2103, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4503529)
$2,895,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
2,822 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

48 East Avenue #1608
Austin, TX
Photo of 48  East Avenue #1608, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5281895)
$769,900
Lot Size
17,904 sqft

Home Size
803 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

210 Lee Barton Drive #415
Austin, TX
Photo of 210  Lee Barton Drive #415, Austin, TX 78704 (MLS # 9904633)
$569,000
Lot Size
401 sqft

Home Size
1,002 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

800 Embassy Drive #401
Austin, TX
Photo of 800  Embassy Drive #401, Austin, TX 78702 (MLS # 1860215)
$724,900
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,214 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

54 Rainey Street #713
Austin, TX
Photo of 54  Rainey Street #713, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7457011)
$749,999
Lot Size
305 sqft

Home Size
1,164 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

501 West Avenue #3504
Austin, TX
Photo of 501  West Avenue #3504, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 9522632)
$2,390,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
2,009 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

44 East Avenue #4804
Austin, TX
Photo of 44  East Avenue #4804, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 6829683)
$4,990,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
3,234 sqft

Beds
4 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

311 W 5th Street #803
Austin, TX
Photo of 311 W 5th Street #803, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5816720)
$2,500,000
Lot Size
301 sqft

Home Size
2,361 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

200 CONGRESS Avenue #15F
Austin, TX
Photo of 200  CONGRESS Avenue #15F, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1413243)
$2,175,000
Lot Size
131 sqft

Home Size
1,926 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

202 Nueces Street #2101
Austin, TX
Photo of 202  Nueces Street #2101, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3856087)
$3,500,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
2,068 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

  • 44 East Avenue #1607
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 44  East Avenue #1607, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3439383)
    $1,250,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,221 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 222 West Avenue #2901
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 222  West Avenue #2901, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7310113)
    $2,850,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    2,227 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 70 Rainey Street #1908
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 70  Rainey Street #1908, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5246691)
    $1,695,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,434 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 48 East Avenue #2903
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48  East Avenue #2903, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2196520)
    $719,900
    Lot Size
    17,904 sqft

    Home Size
    641 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 603 Davis Street #604
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 603  Davis Street #604, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2434110)
    $649,900
    Lot Size
    214 sqft

    Home Size
    1,136 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 501 West Avenue #2103
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 501  West Avenue #2103, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4503529)
    $2,895,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    2,822 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 48 East Avenue #1608
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48  East Avenue #1608, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5281895)
    $769,900
    Lot Size
    17,904 sqft

    Home Size
    803 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 210 Lee Barton Drive #415
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 210  Lee Barton Drive #415, Austin, TX 78704 (MLS # 9904633)
    $569,000
    Lot Size
    401 sqft

    Home Size
    1,002 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 800 Embassy Drive #401
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 800  Embassy Drive #401, Austin, TX 78702 (MLS # 1860215)
    $724,900
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,214 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 54 Rainey Street #713
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 54  Rainey Street #713, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7457011)
    $749,999
    Lot Size
    305 sqft

    Home Size
    1,164 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 501 West Avenue #3504
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 501  West Avenue #3504, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 9522632)
    $2,390,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    2,009 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 44 East Avenue #4804
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 44  East Avenue #4804, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 6829683)
    $4,990,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    3,234 sqft

    Beds
    4 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 311 W 5th Street #803
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 311 W 5th Street #803, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5816720)
    $2,500,000
    Lot Size
    301 sqft

    Home Size
    2,361 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 200 CONGRESS Avenue #15F
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 200  CONGRESS Avenue #15F, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1413243)
    $2,175,000
    Lot Size
    131 sqft

    Home Size
    1,926 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 202 Nueces Street #2101
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 202  Nueces Street #2101, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3856087)
    $3,500,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    2,068 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

Previous Next
 

Related

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 78701, architecture, art, city life, design

About James Rambin

James is an Austin native and fifth-generation Texan, but tries not to brag about it. Email him anything at james@towers.net.

603 Davis Street #604
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #604, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2434110)
$649,900
10
  • Lot Size
    214 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,136 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

Previous Post: « East Austin’s Latest Office Building Is a High-Minded Architectural Throwback
Next Post: Downtown Austin’s Extended Stay America is Finally Coming Down »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  •  Schedule a showing

FEATURED Listings

603 Davis Street #604
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #604, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2434110)
$649,900
10
  • Lot Size
    214 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,136 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

44 EAST Avenue #2310
Austin, TX
Photo of 44  EAST Avenue #2310, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 9418770)
$1,425,000
40
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,260 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

View Virtual Tour

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 7596312 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

608 Brentwood Street #A
Austin, TX
Photo of 608  Brentwood Street #A, Austin, TX 78752 (MLS # 3202099)
$989,608
33
  • Lot Size
    4,356 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,959 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

501 West Avenue #2103
Austin, TX
Photo of 501  West Avenue #2103, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4503529)
$2,895,000
40
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    2,822 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    4 Baths

austin condo report

Featured Buildings

  • 360 Condos
  • Austin City Lofts
  • The Independent
  • The Shore Condos
  • 70 Rainey

Footer

LEGAL NOTICE

TREC Information About Brokerage Services (pdf)

Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice


TOWERS realty

Austin Condos For Sale

Agents

Downtown Buildings

Luxury Towers

  • Four Seasons Residences
  • W Hotel & Residences
  • The Austonian
  • 5 Fifty Five at Hilton

Most Popular

  • The Shore
  • 360 Condos
  • Seaholm Condos
  • Spring Condos
  • Milago Condos

New Construction

  • The Independent
  • 70 Rainey
  • Austin Proper
  • Fifth & West

Loft Style

  • Austin City Lofts
  • Brazos Place
  • The Sabine
  • Plaza Lofts
  • Avenue Lofts
  • Brazos Lofts
  • Brown Building

Resources

  • Austin Condo Guide
  • Condos For Sale
  • Condo Buyer FAQ
  • Property Search

Featured

Archives

Newsletter · About · Contact Us · DMCA · Privacy Policy · SLAPP · Copyright © 2007-2022 TOWERS.net · All Rights Reserved
 

Loading Comments...