East Austin’s rapid growth has reshaped its demographics, with median home prices soaring over 200% since 2010. To ensure our design responded to real needs, we conducted interviews, GIS mapping, and behavioral observations, identifying four key resident profiles:

The Professional – A remote worker seeking a compact 1-bedroom (1,150 SF) with a private patio and home office, relying on street parking.

The Roommate – A group of young adults in a 4-bedroom (3,150 SF) with a large shared patio and flexible common space, using street parking.

The American Dreamer – A family desiring suburban comforts in an urban setting, with a 4-bedroom (2,680 SF), private yard, and dedicated driveway.

The Go-Getter – A hybrid professional needing a 2-bedroom (1,650 SF) with a home office, patio, and street parking.

We audited five existing properties using atomic design principles, breaking down layouts ("atoms") and shared amenities ("molecules") to understand what worked—and what didn’t—in East Austin’s housing stock.

Each persona directly shaped the unit specifications. For The Professional, we prioritized soundproofing and efficient workspaces, while The Roommate required split-bedroom layouts to balance privacy and communal living. The American Dreamer demanded traditional suburban features (private yards, driveways) adapted for urban density, and The Go-Getter needed convertible spaces for work and relaxation.

All units include ground-floor private entries, dedicated outdoor space (patios, terraces, or yards), and tailored parking solutions (street, driveway, or carport). Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the design offers flexibility to accommodate different lifestyles within the same development.

To ensure the project complemented—rather than disrupted—the neighborhood, we analyzed East Austin’s A-B massing rhythm, where single-family homes create a distinct pattern of solids and voids. We applied a 10ft/40ft grid to replicate this rhythm in the new development. Material choices—such as local brick, metal roofs, and front porches—mirror the area’s architectural language.

We also carefully layered gradients of privacy, from private courtyards to semi-public walkways, reinforcing the neighborhood’s balance of individuality and community.

The final prototype consists of 10–20 units ranging from 1,150 to 3,150 SF, offering diverse ownership models (rental, condo, co-op). Unlike generic mixed-use developments, this project preserves neighborhood scale while adding much-needed housing. It avoids both luxury pricing and stigmatized "low-income" design, instead providing a family-friendly, middle-ground alternative for Austin’s densifying core.

By letting real people—not just zoning codes—guide the architecture, this project demonstrates how research-driven design can create housing that is both livable and scalable in rapidly changing cities.