Truth be told, people peruse design magazines for many reasons: to garner ideas for their own homes, to see how the other half lives or to just enjoy pretty pictures of lovely places and things. But for the truly serious design lover, there is little substitute for actually experiencing a building in real life–walking in and around a structure, understanding the connection between its rooms and appreciating the emotions aroused by the space.
The 32nd annual AIA Austin Homes Tour promises its participants all that and more. The two-day-long affair (October 27 and 28) will showcase 14 homes (13 in neighborhoods around Austin and one in San Marcos) designed in a variety of architectural styles by an assortment of award-winners, including Clayton & Little, Dick Clark + Associates and Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects.
For eight hours each day, a limited number of lucky visitors will get an exclusive peek inside a series of spectacular residences. Some are historic and were sensitively renovated. Others are dazzling brand-new construction. They include a pristine 1930s Moderne that resembles a sleek ocean liner, a low-slung midcentury modern clad in warm brick and a monumental contemporary minimalist that sits serenely in the landscape. Tickets are now on sale on the AIA website.
