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Texan studio Michael Hsu Office of Architecture borrowed from mid-century modern design to create the Balboa Surf Club restaurant, which features lush plants, rich-toned wood and green upholstery. More
Pops of colour and a bar with an entrance hidden by a bookcase have been installed in a software company’s office interiors, recently completed in downtown Austin by Seattle-based architecture studio Mithun.
Spanning five storeys, the 157,000-square foot (14,585 square metres) office houses diverse work and amenity spaces for Atlassian Inc, an Australian company that develops products for software developers and project managers.
Mithun has completed colourful office interiors for Atlassian Inc in AustinCompleted in 2022, the office is housed in a building shell designed by Gensler, while Mithun was responsible for the interior architecture of the workspace, collaboration areas, focus rooms, cafes and kitchen spaces, lounges and rooftop patio.
“Atlassian creates collaboration software, so at the very core of their culture is a focus on fostering collaboration,” said Mithun partner Elizabeth Gordon.
The office is housed in an exterior by GenslerAccording to Gordon, the team prioritized flexibility, inclusivity and sustainability.
The studio created an environment that inspired social connection with people-centred spaces for in-person and hybrid collaboration and amenities for networking as Atlassian’s team re-establishes a workspace.
The team prioritized flexibility, inclusivity and sustainabilityRather than delineating floor space with individual workstations, the design opens the rectangular office along the glazed exterior for collaborative zones with moveable furniture, dividing curtains and integrated technology that “empower workers to curate their own day-to-day journey”.
The spaces are separated by warm wooden bookshelves set into the structural grid that rounds into a ceiling detail before running down the other side of the space.
Moveable furniture and open floor plans encourage collaborationFocus rooms – provided for individual, head-down work – are arranged in rows as a transition from the open workspace to the central core with circulation and facilities.
Lit from a large skylight, a feature stair climbs through the building, connecting the workspaces to the amenities, which include a music-inspired coffee shop and “living room” with a stage for events and an indoor-outdoor happy hour area that connects to a secret, Texas-themed bar through a hidden bookcase.
It includes focus rooms, shower and parent suites, all-gender restrooms, meditation rooms and a wellness studio”Indoor-outdoor connections throughout provide access to fresh air, support outdoor work and help promote movement throughout the day,” the team said. “The variety of unique destinations serves to surprise and delight workers while fostering a sense of community.”
In terms of inclusivity, the design incorporates elements that create a “safe and inviting space for all Atlassian employees” – like the installation of art and accessories from Austin-based artists of color and LGBTQIA+ creators.
CitizenM aims for “differentiation through massing” at Downtown Austin location
Wayfinding was integrated in the form of large-scale custom murals by local artists that lend identity to each floor. Additionally, custom bottle chandeliers serve as an abstract reference to Texas bottle trees.
The office also includes single-occupant, all-gender restrooms, shower and parent suites, meditation and ablution rooms and a multi-purpose wellness studio that can hold classes from local fitness instructors.
A bar is accessed through a bookshelfThe project is targeting a LEED Gold standard with high-performance systems and sustainable materials.
“The design for Atlassian Austin incorporates biophilic principles in many different ways – with new skylights above the stairwells that let sunlight pour in across different levels, with views in and views out, and with the use of plants and natural materials and textures,” said Mithun partner Lisa Scribante
Other office projects that have recently come online in Austin include Michael Hsu’s self-designed architecture studio and a renovated 110-year-old bungalow for a tech investment firm. West of West also completed a concrete office complex in one of the city’s industrial neighbourhoods.
The photography is by Jasper Sanidad.
Project credits:
Interior architecture: MithunCore/shell: GenslerClient: AtlassianGeneral contractor: Harvey Cleary BuildersFurniture dealer: CRIPlants: Texas TropicalCustom installations: SarabiFurniture: Coalesse, Hightower, Studio TK, Keilhauer, Spacestor, Hem, Hay, Andreu World, Muuto, TON, Emeco, WCI, Blastation, Fritz Hansen, Carl Hansen & Son, Uhuru, Bend Goods, Offecct, Grand Rapids, Sossego, Herman Miller, Schiavello, Davis, Bernhardt Design, Watson, Fogia, Bludot, Kettal, PedraliMaterials: Luum, Maharam, Kvadrat, Carnegie, Kirei, Filzfelt, Pollack, HBF Textiles, Clay Imports, Shaw Contract, Flor, Wineo, Stone Source, Caesarstone, Foresso, Daltile, Cambria, Jujupapers, Katie Kime, Wolf Gordon, ArmstrongLighting: Rich Brilliant Willing, Schoolhouse Electric
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Architecture studio Concrete has designed a hotel block for Dutch chain CitizenM in Downtown Austin, which is the brand’s first Texas location and features artwork created in partnership with locals.
CitizenM worked with long-time collaborator architecture studio Concrete to purpose-build a 16-storey structure at the top of a slope in the city’s downtown.
CitizenM has opened a location in AustinWorking with US architecture studio Baskervill to create the symmetric facade, which features wide spans of black steel interspersed with wide windows, with a stretch of aluminium panelling above the entrance.
The brand said that the modern form was meant to stand out from the surrounding buildings – a mix of historical stone buildings and contemporary glass-clad skyscrapers.
It is housed in a 16-storey building”Downtown Austin is quite a dynamic urban environment with many new constructions gradually changing the character of this part of the city,” CitizenM told Dezeen.
“We are surrounded by lower, older buildings as well as some of the new office towers. While CitizenM is standing out as one of the new additions to the neighborhood we try to add character and interest to our buildings by creating differentiation through massing, materials and facade design.”
It features a mix of local and international artThe double-height entrance space features a floor-to-ceiling glass wall that wraps the corner of the block. It has been set back from the street with an overhang created by a cantilever on the lobby level.
CitizenM placed its signature red staircase at the entrance. It leads up to the lobby floor past built-in shelving cluttered with Pop Art pieces, many of which were gathered from local artists and sources.
The eclectic collection of art continues in the lobby and the 344 guest rooms, which have works selected with the help of Austin Contemporary Museum.
Large windows characterise the facadeThe lobby was divided into a variety of spaces separated by built-in shelving and furnished with brightly coloured editions of modern furniture, most of which was supplied by Vitra.
The bar and social area feature banquette seating placed under the glass walls.
CitizenM to become “first hospitality company to build in the metaverse”
In the hallways of the upper floors, the mix of standardisation and localisation continues. Red carpets have been printed with the black outline of an aerial view of the Austin city grid.
Each room has a large king bed wedged under a window with blinds remote-controlled from a bedside iPad, which also controls the lights. A wrapped polycarbonate pane separates the shower from the rest of the room and a small sink sits opposite.
It sits among a mix of historical and modern buildingsAmenities include a workout room that includes an AI fitness instructor that operates through video feedback and a rooftop pool adorned with a mural by Mexican artist Hilda Palafox.
CitizenM was founded to give contemporary travellers a sense of “affordable luxury”, according to the brand, and has recently opened in Miami.
The photography is courtesy of CitizenM.
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Los Angeles design studio Gharib Studio has contrasted concrete floors and exposed ceilings with soft-pink walls and clean lines for a jewellery store in Austin.
Created for the friendship jewellery brand Little Words Project (LWP), Gharib Studio used elements of the merchandise to inform the store’s pink material palette and incorporated arches throughout the space to contrast the industrial elements of the building, which were left exposed.
Gharib Studio has outfitted a jewellery store in Austin with dusty pinkAccording to Gharib Studio founder Nora Gharib, the team followed the common phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” when designing the concept store.
“I wanted to amplify the brand in a grand way by taking the LWP brand aesthetic and localizing it to Texas by pushing the standard design elements, such as the brand’s bracelet arches and beading table experience, then accentuating it,” said Gharib.
Arches and soft tones contrast with the space’s industrial elementsVisitors enter the store into a large, primary space, where built-in display cases were integrated into the walls.
On one side, the display resembles small bookcases and on the other, the bracelets are displayed throughout a series of arches.
Long tables lead to the seating area at the back of the spaceAt the centre of the primary space are two long tables with metallic-coated bases, also used for display. A circular display table in the middle was created to resemble a vanity, with merchandise incorporated throughout.
Gharib inserted three arches along the back of the space, in part to accentuate the height of the space, and to draw visitors to the space beyond them, which serves as a beading area.
Metallic details were informed by the charms found on the braceletsThis space was outfitted with CB2 Castell Chairs in burgundy, with similar tables as the main space, except with pink bases instead of silver.
A neon sign that reads, “You can sit with us” hangs above the tables.
Side Angle Side transforms mid-century Austin post office into restaurant
Textured dusty-pink wallpaper by Belarte Studio was used to line the space, while the remaining interior was covered in a rose pink hue.
Metallic accents throughout the store, including aluminium light pendants, a metal trimmed mirror and the display table’s metallic bases, were informed by the metal charms found in LWP bracelets.
It is the brand’s first store in AustinThe space’s utility elements were left exposed on the ceiling, with red track lighting running the perimeter of the space.
Other retail projects recently completed in Austin include a mid-century post office turned grocery by Side Angle Side.
Gharib Studio is a Los Angeles-based studio founded by Nora Gharib in 2023, focused on retail and brand design.
The photography is by Casey Woods Photography
Project credits:
Architectural designer: Gharib Studio
General contractor: Paco Santander Construction
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Texas architecture studio Side Angle Side has adapted a 1960s post office into a food market and restaurant in Austin.
Opened in October 2023 in the Hyde Park area, Tiny Grocer serves as a speciality market, bar and cafe while Bureau de Poste is a modern French bistro led by celebrity chef Jo Chan.
Side Angle Side has transformed a 1960s post office into a food market and restaurantAustin-based commercial and residential architecture firm Side Angle Side renovated the 3,500-square foot (325-square metre) 1967 US Post Office building and added a 1,500-square foot (140-square metre) outdoor dining patio.
“The Hyde Park U.S. Post Office was an important neighborhood hub in the 1960s – so we were especially careful to keep the integrity and spirit of the mid-century-utilitarian design,” Arthur Furman, founding partner of Side Angle Side, told Dezeen.
The team sought to preserve the building’s history as a community hub”As the anchor tenant in the space, Tiny Grocer continues to be the centre of the community, a place to gather, shop, eat and drink.”
The shell of the white brick building was left intact, but the street-facing facade was previously used as a loading dock so the team transformed the back-of-house edge into a welcoming patio for the neighbourhood by removing the asphalt and adding two large live oak trees and a steel trellis and planters.
The exterior of the building was kept intactA cast-in-place concrete banquette holds the edge of the patio that is paved with antique red brick.
The steel planter forms a boundary between the parking area and the dining space, while the other edge is held by a light grey-coloured stucco restroom building. White metal furniture from Isimar and Portofino was used to furnish the patio.
“The patio and wine garden is the real heart of the project,” the team said, mentioning that it wasn’t within the original scope of the project but added later when its larger value was realized. “This is where all the care and thought of the interior spills to the outside, creating a lively environment.”
The renovated building has exposed concrete floors from the original buildingOn the interior, Side Angle Side complemented the original ceiling and open web joists with metal decking and industrial warehouse pendants by AQ Lighting. The polished concrete floors expose the weathered imperfections and show the history of the building.
Upon entering, shoppers take in the colourful selection of curated products displayed on white oak mercantile shelving. Green millwork hugs one wall and the space widens to an open interior plan.
A patio and wine garden is at the heart of the projectA central deli and coffee bar floats in the middle of the room and creates a transition from the market to the bistro. The bar is wrapped in Seneca terracotta tile and topped with grey and white quartz countertops. Wooden Soule barstools are tucked under the waterfall counter.
The back-of-house spaces hold a kitchen office, storage, and bar equipment.
Side Angle Side creates gabled home in Austin for an architectural photographer
“Working closely with the owner, design finishes hint at the building’s midcentury past,” the team said, referencing the custom, built-in leather banquette by Undercover Austin Upholstery that lines the bistro’s back wall.
Above the banquette and Second Chance Custom wooden dining tables hang black cone light pendants by All Modern.
The patio features brick flooring and white metal furniture”The single biggest sustainable feature of this project is one that is often overlooked,” the team said, noting the adaptation of the structure. “The ‘loose fit, long life’ style of these old buildings leads to more reuse and far less waste.”
Recent adaptive reuse projects in Austin include a 1900s house converted to a luxury office by Michael Hsu and commercial units converted to an architecture studio by Baldridge Architects.
The photography is by Likeness Studio and Mackenzie Smith Kelly.
Project credits:
Structural engineer: Creative EngineeringMEP engineer: ATS EngineersBuilder: Archive PropertiesCommercial interior design: Side Angle SideArchitects: Side Angle SideBuilding shell: Thought Barn StudioLandscape design: Side Angle Side & Wild Heart DirtOwner: Steph Steele
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Texas studio Michael Hsu Office of Architecture adapted a 110-year-old bungalow into an office for technology and bio-science investment firm 8VC in Austin.
Completed in 2023, 8VC’s new Austin headquarters are located on a half-acre lot along South Congress Avenue, a busy entertainment district of the Texas capital.
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture renovated an early 20th-century house in AustinOriginally constructed in 1912, the home was once a brothel and had many renovations, becoming the first building south of the city’s Colorado River to have power.
“This project preserves one of the few remaining stately houses on South Congress,” Michael Hsu, founder of his eponymous studio, told Dezeen. “The design takes cues from its past by providing a fresh take on vintage inspirations and opens up the space to accommodate modern uses.”
The design preserved many original detailsUsing the client’s desire for “an office that felt like a home,” the team revamped the two-storey house into a 4,845-square foot (450-square metre) workspace with multiple production, meeting, and gathering spaces — including a 557-square feet (52-square metre) clubhouse tucked at the back of the property.
The preserved exterior of the building draws on the home’s original stately design but was updated and sealed in a dark matte finished stucco with low-profile dark window frames.
The ground floor is oriented around hearth spacesRelocating the entry around the side of the property with a grand wrap-around plaza, the home’s original screened porch was traded for a glazed exterior corner that connects the exterior and interior spaces.
The ground floor consists of multiple indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. The interior is organized around a central enfilade and two hearth spaces inspired by the original brick chimneys.
The clients wanted a home-like feel to the interiorThe rich, warm-toned interior has a “sophisticated study-like atmosphere is achieved through the careful selection of materials and color-mapped palettes, including walnut wood floors, lime wash paint, striking wall coverings, plaster arches and marble finishes,” the team said.
Plaster arched openings pass from the white central lounge to jewel-toned gathering spaces – one of which features a ribbed black fireplace that appears to melt into the floor in front of a marble coffee table.
A mix of modern and antique furniture was used”The furnishings, a mix of vintage and modern pieces with luxe fabrics and textures, create a sense of intimacy.”
Designed to be “luxurious but not ostentatious”, the office features textured and sculptural accents like a leather-wrapped reception desk by David Ambrose and a grand chandelier by Karen Hawkins that hangs in the centre of the staircase.
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Above, the plan was reorganised with a large open desk layout in the southern corner along the glazed wall and private offices lining the northwestern and northeastern walls.
“The interior was inspired to feel fresh but like it was original to the house,” the team said with “multiple moments of surprise and intrigue depending on where you are in the space”.
Between the main office and the separated clubhouse is a large outdoor gathering area shaded by the heritage tree canopy that the team preserved during construction.
“It was important to us that the building and its design reflect the values of our company and our mission,” 8VC founder Jake Medwell told Dezeen. “It took years to find and build out the right place and we are very happy with the outcome.”
Recently, Michael Hsu Office of Architecture adapted a 1930s church in Austin into a studio for argodesign.
The photography is by Chase Daniel.
Project credits:
Landscape: MHOAGeneral contractor: The Burt GroupMEP: AYSStructural: StructuresOwner’s rep: Darrell Arevalo, Urban TerraWaterproofing: ActonCivil: WGISignage: BIG
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Texas studio Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has designed the common areas for a 50-storey residential high-rise building in Austin, as shown in this exclusive video captured by Dezeen.
Called 44 East, the building is located east of downtown Austin in the Rainey Street Historic district. The firm designed the interiors of the building’s common areas, which take cues from its natural surroundings, particularly the neighbouring Colorado River.
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has designed the interiors of 44 East
The practice enhanced the space using colour and texture, layering vintage and custom furnishings to create a relaxed and inviting ambience.
Curved surfaces and light colours are incorporated throughout the space, with poured concrete terrazzo floors incorporated to pay homage to the gravel of the nearby riverside trail.
Curved surfaces and light colours are incorporated into the lobby area of 44 EastThe interior is characterised by the use of soft shapes and natural materials throughout the various spaces, including on the eleventh floor, where pastel hues complement subtle architectural details.
The outdoor swimming pool features a series of pebble-shaped islands, with a partially-covered patio inviting guests to relax outside and enjoy the views of the river.
The eleventh floor features a circular outdoor swimming poolOn the thirty-seventh floor, a large moon-like pendant light is suspended above a plush circular sofa.
The higher vantage point offers scenic views of downtown Austin, and features jewel tones and darker materials intended to complement the Texas skyline at dusk.
The thirty-seventh floor features darker tones to complement views of the Texas skyline44 East was developed by Intracorp, while the tower and unit interiors were designed by Page and landscapes designed by DWG.
The interior design of the common spaces is one of the latest projects by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, which is based in Austin and Houston.
The company recently completed its self-designed Austin studio, which is adorned in wood-and-fabric lined walls and industrial details, to accommodate its growing team.
The photography is by Chase Daniel.
Partnership content
This video was produced by Dezeen for Michael Hsu Office of Architecture as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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This exclusive video produced by Dezeen features The Perch, architect Nicole Blair’s elevated house extension in Austin, which was designed to maximise living space.
As its name suggests, the structure is perched just two feet above the roof of the existing home to minimise disturbance to the residence below.
Blair clad the guesthouse in weathering-steel panels and added wood-framed windows provided by Windsor Windows & Doors. The Burnt Pumpkin colour of the windows was selected to complement the Corten-steel exterior.
The structure spans 660 square feet and consists of an irregularly shaped steel volume supported by four columns.
The assembly of the steel structure took place offsite, in order to minimise disruption to the mature vegetation on the premises and reduce on-site material storage.
The wood-clad windows were provided by Windsor Windows & DoorsThe architect designed the interior of the guesthouse to have a bright, airy atmosphere and adorned it with colourful accents.
It features wood flooring supplied and installed by local company Artisan Hardwood Floors, which was complemented with pink cabinetry and exposed plumbing fittings throughout the home.
The materials used for the wood flooring were a mix of pre-finished plain and rift-sawn white oak, along with excess wood recycled from a larger project by the company.
The wood flooring was supplied and installed by Artisan Hardwood FloorsThe first floor of the guesthouse encompasses an open-concept kitchen, living room and dining area with compact footprints and vaulted ceilings for an increased sense of space.
The upper level includes a room facing the street and another overlooking the backyard, designated for use as a guest bedroom and a hair salon for one of the hairstylist owners.
The photography is by Casey Dunn.
Partnership content
This video was produced by Dezeen for Windsor Windows & Doors and Artisan Hardwood Floors as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has adorned its studio with wood-and-fabric lined walls and industrial details in Austin in order to create a material “representation” of its work.
Located in Austin’s Rosedale neighbourhood, the 10,750-square-foot (1,000-square metre) studio combines elements of residential and warehouse architecture.
Michael Hsu Office for Architecture has completed its self-designed Austin studio”The new studio provides us with the additional space we needed and is a physical representation of our process. The spaces are designed to facilitate how we work now – allowing for different modes, sizes, and shapes of collaboration.” founder Michael Hsu said.
“We wanted to design a space for our team to develop curiosity and creativity while being surrounded by a community of talented people.”
The project features bespoke touchesIt was completed in July 2022 for its growing team. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture occupies the first and third floors of the three-storey building.
The exterior is wrapped in locally crafted terracotta block along the base and dark-coloured horizontal cladding around the top floors that is punctured by large windows.
Exposed steel trusses add an atmosphere of industry to the spaceThe rectangular plan is bisected by a large pale green exterior staircase with a slatted roof to shade it from the Texas sun. Wooden soffits warm the exterior material with subtle blade signs directing circulation.
Inside, exposed steel trusses – painted white – add an atmosphere of industry to the space, while the thin black window frames and mullions provide delicate contrast.
Scarlet-hued velvet furniture contrasts with various industrial accents”The spaces allow for different modes, sizes and shapes of collaboration across a larger footprint,” the team said. “Humble materials were used in beautiful and unexpected ways.”
“Bespoke furnishings and curated artwork throughout the space reflect a commitment to collaboration with MHOA’s favorite fabricators and artists.”
A painting by Patrick Puckett decorates the entry loungeThe ground floor – with conference rooms designated for entertaining clients scattered within the buzz of the office – prioritizes finish and formality with bold monochromatic colours.
The entry lounge is wrapped in light grey routed wooden wall panels and adorned with a vibrant painting by Patrick Puckett and a custom light fixture by Warbach Lighting in collaboration with artist Brandon Mike.
The casual workspace is juxtaposed by more “formal” conference roomsGrey drapes and scarlet-coloured velvet furniture serve as a plush alternative to the clean lines of the custom spalted maple and polished aluminium reception desk.
The open-plan workspace is full of light with Calacatta Gold Borghini marble and soft white details set off by raw white oak flooring and walnut desktops and millwork.
These rooms are draped in sapphire silk and mohair wall coveringsThe casual workspace is juxtaposed with the “formal dining space” of the conference rooms. Draped in sapphire silk and mohair wall coverings, the conference rooms have custom tables by Michael Wilson and Drophouse, vintage chairs and suspended metallic light fixtures.
Upstairs, the light-filled elevator lobby has playful art inclusions like Shawn Smith’s pixelated deer head sculpture and Hsu’s vintage Ducati motorcycle.
Ten self-designed studios by architects and designers
The third floor serves as a collaborative space for the designers with “a hands-on material lab and a generous lounge and kitchen designed to support social connection”.
A custom mint-green and chrome Litmus Industries cabinet divides the space and serves as an intimate moment within the open space full of combined white desks.
A mint-green and chrome Litmus Industries cabinet divides the space”It was important to the team to represent expertise and show exceptional hospitality to clients while being inclusive and accommodating to MHOA’s designers,” the studio said.
The office’s affinity for soft jewel-toned furniture placed in large industrial spaces is evident in its 2019 design of Shake Shack’s headquarters in New York and the recent conversion of a 1930s church for Argodesign’s Austin office.
The photography is by Chase Daniel.
Project credits:
Architecture + interiors, FFE selection and procurement: Michael Hsu Office of ArchitectureCustom light fixture: designed in collaboration with Warbach Lighting and artist Brandon MikeCustom tables: Michael Wilson and DrophouseCustom millwork and reception desk: Litmus IndustriesArtists: Patrick Puckett, Denise Prince, Clare Grill, Seung Yul Oh, Dorota Jedrusik, Hugo Pernet and Paolo Arao
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