Austin’s got its problems, sure, but one thing this city’s crushing is public restroom design. We take this topic very seriously, not only due to an appreciation of good architecture but because we often use these facilities ourselves, and we believe their existence is critical for safe, equitable urban life. Let . . . Become a patron to get the full…
design
Austin’s Historic Norwood Estate Prepares for a Comeback
After sitting derelict for decades, the future of Austin’s Ollie O. Norwood Estate looks better than ever. This is great news for patient people, since the historic Craftsman-style bungalow built in 1922 by developer and stockbroker Ollie Norwood and his wife Calie at 1018 Edgecliff Terrace on the northwest corner of East Riverside Drive and the I-35 Frontage Road…
Go ‘Beyond the Fence’ at 44 East Avenue With This Documentary Series
Though we’re no strangers to enthusiastic design coverage of upcoming downtown Austin condo, apartment, and office towers, nothing beats video for eye-popping views of the large-scale construction projects changing our city’s skyline every day. That’s why we’re happy to see construction firm Flintco, behind developer Intracorp’s upcoming 44 East Avenue condo tower, putting a little more effort than usual into…
Enjoy the Shade at Brazos Bluff, the Hike-and-Bike Trail’s Latest Upgrade
In all the chaos of the pandemic, we neglected to notice that the Trail Foundation, Austin’s nonprofit stewards of the Hike-and-Bike Trail, reached a nice milestone — Brazos Bluff, one of the organization’s 15 trail improvement projects marking the 15th anniversary of its . . . Become a patron to get the full story and gain access to TOWERS’ archive….
A Restoration Project’s on the Way for the Historic Zilker Clubhouse
After 86 years of service and counting, the Zilker Clubhouse, one of Austin’s best examples of Depression-era public works architecture and sporting some of the most impressive skyline views west of MoPac, is bound for a well-deserved scrubbing. Though the current pandemic has delayed its design phase, a rehabilitation plan for the facility is officially in . . . …
Northwest Downtown Development Roundup: The Hottest Corner Around
As we’ve laid out in a number of previous articles, the northwest corner of downtown Austin is one of the most interesting areas for growth in the central city. Less bustling or dense than its neighboring districts, yet still close to the rest of the action, it’s become clear over our last few years of prognostication that…