Autohaus

[Ryan]

"The Autohaus is a car collectors? garage and residence in central Texas. The design features compact living quarters, expressed as a single mass, floating above an open a...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Damn...that's some major cantilever! I'd love to see what kind and size of beams they used.

Okay, after reading the story, I read that they used W30x116 beams. BTW, if you're not familiar with what that means, the beams are Wide flange (W) 30 (30" tall) X 116 (116 lbs. per ft.) steel beams.

'Rule of thumb' for cantilevers in wood framing is 1/3 of beam length allowable for cantilever, so if that holds true in this case, each beam would weigh 6960 lbs!

 

[woodrail]

OK, I'm going to put on my "critic" hat....

The thing just isn't attractive to me! It has some weird angles not related to anything. The cantilever really doesn't serve a purpose? Other than drama, nothing prevent a couple of posts from being placed at the end. It appears to be grass available.

I bet the neighbor next door with those picture windows is real happy!

 

[Eslader]

The thing just isn't attractive to me! It has some weird angles not related to anything.

Same here. I don't understand the current trend in high-dollar custom houses that says they should look like a conference center. Make it look like a house. This is a lot more appealing than the corporate retreat idea:

 

[casmurbax]

I bet the neighbor next door with those picture windows is real happy!

^I too wonder if that is the neighbor or is that owned by the garage owner.



https://www.archdaily.com/882027/autohaus-matt-fajkus-architecture

http://www.mfarchitecture.com/work-autohaus

the builder's link is only showing on GJ home page

 

[ford33]

Little privacy inside with floor to ceiling windows. I like cutting edge architecture but I would not feel comfortable in that home.

 

[shelteredV]

Electrostatic glass would cure the privacy issue.

 

[sberry]

I like it, would have used a bit more steel and less wood.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Even though it isn't my 'cup of tea' as far as aesthetics, I enjoy seeing 'outside the box' thinking and design. If we all liked exactly the same things, what a boring world it would be.

 

[yeldogt]

Austin's a cool place -- the RE market is really hot. Great house ... have to love cars. It looks more like a weekend house

 

[paranoid56]

Same here. I don't understand the current trend in high-dollar custom houses that says they should look like a conference center. Make it look like a house. This is a lot more appealing than the corporate retreat idea:

for me i would tare this type of house down in a hartbeat to build the top one lol. never been a fan of these style of houses.

Give me something modern and funky.

 

[K13]

Even though it isn't my 'cup of tea' as far as aesthetics, I enjoy seeing 'outside the box' thinking and design. If we all liked exactly the same things, what a boring world it would be.

I like it but can see why others wouldn't. Having said that I have never understood the fact that people "can't understand" that everyone doesn't like the same things as they do.

 

[Ryan]

I've lived in everything from a 1890's tudor home in Kansas City that we remodeled ourselves, to a spec home we did nothing to, to our current house - a modern farmhouse that my wife and designed ourselves. I have a real passion for modern architecture and love buildings that are drawn up without thinking of traditional limitations.

So... uhh... yeah... I love this Autohaus thing. All of that glass... all of that steel... the cantilevered car port... the crisp white... I love it all.

 

[AirJunky]

Very cool place! I like the cantilevered car port. Although I'd be happy to cut expenses & use wood beams & posts out at the end too.

Seems like the type of place that would be in an urban area, like a block or so off the main drag, whereas the one Esalder posted would be in the burbs. Definitely not the same type of location.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I could live there, no problem.

 

[ChevyEFI]

My first reaction: Ryan, I don't see your Carrera.

Second, I enjoy the use of space, which leads me to want the over-garage area to be an extra garage area with elevator, and a whole-roof patio area.

But, the simplicity of the structure, the inset tile on wood, the created use of forward space with the cantilever, and some other details, I really like. Needs more people factor; Enzo can't do it all by himself.

 

[tjpavlov]

Matt Risinger was the contractor on that house. He's posted a bunch of videos from during construction about different aspects of the build.

A quick YouTube search is worth the effort.

 

[Brian R]

So... uhh... yeah... I love this Autohaus thing. All of that glass... all of that steel... the cantilevered car port... the crisp white... I love it all.

I was going to write something but that sums it up perfectly and I emphasize the carport which is just perfect for a million different things....showing off a car, detail work, out of the sun and then just lazing under it with neighbors listening to ball game on the radio...perfect.

 

[James E]

Yeah, the cantilever provides a great covered area for hanging out or working.

I love it. I have told my wife many times that my dream house would be a garage with a small attached apartment.

I couldn't live in an all-glass living area. The crowds of women that would assemble on the lawn at bath time would kill the grass. But, I really like and appreciate modern architecture and I think that place is awesome.

 

[Ryan]

The crowds of women that would assemble on the lawn at bath time would kill the grass.

Hahahaha.

 

[Rolleiflex]

I love the look of that place! I'd live there in a heartbeat!

 

[ard]

SO I've looked at this thread for a day or so, as well as the architects other work....

While I like the visual appeal, I was trying to put a finger on what was bugging me.

Many the designs don't seem to acknowledge the function of the building within the environment- they jsut seem like that would be energy disasters. Uncomfortable and/or expensive to heat cool. Yes, I love the glass, the metal...the design aesthic of the roof and the interior ceiling being jsut a 16" structure- no attic, no air. Interiors heated by the sun, HVAC system running all the time to move air around.

Sure the Autohaus house has a slat covered patio by the tree side.... But the rest of that structure just seems to give up a lot of utility for cutting edge design.

Having said that, the same firm MF, has a place called Patterson which utilizes all the features of hot TX design features: low metal roofs, overhangs, shade, etc. To create a liveable and functional space.

Back to Autohaus. All in all, I'm a bit of a mixed fan. Cool, yes. Interesting, yes. Art? Yes. Home for me? Nah.

 

[Xander]

I want my next garage to have a 2nd floor open to below so I can have a nice view of the cars below, especially when the cars are brought up to 2nd floor heights via 4 posts.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I love it Ryan, thanks for posting!

 

[Hugo L.]

The only problem with modern architecture is that it’s modern as per our current standards. Look at what was considered modern only 15 years ago and you realize that these types of design generally age very, very badly.

 

[SuperCat]

Very cool and interesting, but really, it is only a plaything for some trillionaire. I like working garages, the ones where stuff gets fixed, things get done one way or another, on a budget or no budget at all, where there's dirty, greasy, leaky, old, rusty projects that need work by someone who has pride in their work. These palaces that look like hospital surgery rooms are neat to look at, have floors you can eat off of, and nothing happens there. Nobody gets dirty, the floor stays waxed and spotless, and the butlers pick up every speck of dust as it gently falls out of the filtered, air conditioned air. And while I'm on my soapbox, why hasn't anyone said anything about the spotless, shiny, restored vehicles? Maybe lack of respect because the work was purchased? I'd rather have Ryan's Atomic Garage or Jack's 12 Gauge Garage, where stuff happens, hands get dirty, mistakes are made and owned, pride in workmanship still exists, and projects get done. Respect is earned, you can't buy it. Especially here.

 

[Hugo L.]

Very cool and interesting, but really, it is only a plaything for some trillionaire. I like working garages, the ones where stuff gets fixed, things get done one way or another, on a budget or no budget at all, where there's dirty, greasy, leaky, old, rusty projects that need work by someone who has pride in their work. These palaces that look like hospital surgery rooms are neat to look at, have floors you can eat off of, and nothing happens there. Nobody gets dirty, the floor stays waxed and spotless, and the butlers pick up every speck of dust as it gently falls out of the filtered, air conditioned air. And while I'm on my soapbox, why hasn't anyone said anything about the spotless, shiny, restored vehicles? Maybe lack of respect because the work was purchased? I'd rather have Ryan's Atomic Garage or Jack's 12 Gauge Garage, where stuff happens, hands get dirty, mistakes are made and owned, pride in workmanship still exists, and projects get done. Respect is earned, you can't buy it. Especially here.

Amen.

 

[Ryan]

The only problem with modern architecture is that it’s modern as per our current standards. Look at what was considered modern only 15 years ago and you realize that these types of design generally age very, very badly.

Or, look at the modern architecture of any other generation and see how that design work is cherished today. A good example of that is mid-century modern design.

Point being, good design is good design... Always. It's timeless.

Not saying this is that, but (in my opinion) contemporary design work and pushing the borders is just as important as our historical roots.

Very cool and interesting, but really, it is only a plaything for some trillionaire. I like working garages, the ones where stuff gets fixed, things get done one way or another, on a budget or no budget at all, where there's dirty, greasy, leaky, old, rusty projects that need work by someone who has pride in their work. These palaces that look like hospital surgery rooms are neat to look at, have floors you can eat off of, and nothing happens there. Nobody gets dirty, the floor stays waxed and spotless, and the butlers pick up every speck of dust as it gently falls out of the filtered, air conditioned air. And while I'm on my soapbox, why hasn't anyone said anything about the spotless, shiny, restored vehicles? Maybe lack of respect because the work was purchased? I'd rather have Ryan's Atomic Garage or Jack's 12 Gauge Garage, where stuff happens, hands get dirty, mistakes are made and owned, pride in workmanship still exists, and projects get done. Respect is earned, you can't buy it. Especially here.

I think there is a tendency for guys that work in their garages and make messes to discourage a showroom space. I'm guilty of it at times for sure... But at the end of the day, I really strive to keep my shop as clean as many of these showrooms. Having a clean space just inspires me and makes me want to work in the shop more.

And I have no problems with play spaces for billionaires. Man, I'd love to be a billionaire with a play space... And If I was, I wouldn't do it all that much different than other billionaires. Rather than see it as some kind of badge of dishonor, I see it as motivation to work harder and longer. Good for them, ya know?

Of course, I'll never be a billionaire... And I'm cool with that. I feel pretty damned lucky as it is...

 

[Lelandwelds]

Yeah, the cantilever provides a great covered area for hanging out or working.

I love it. I have told my wife many times that my dream house would be a garage with a small attached apartment.

I couldn't live in an all-glass living area. The crowds of women that would assemble on the lawn at bath time would kill the grass. But, I really like and appreciate modern architecture and I think that place is awesome.

This whole post is too funny.

There are several house like this hanging of the hills of Lake Travis. There's a similar house on Woodrow St.

I like Mr. Risinger's videos. He does soundproofing, insulation, and penetrations especially well.

 

[James E]

I happen to know several guys who have some very nice rolling stock. Some of them buy their cars restored, some of them actively work on them...and some of them used to actively work on stuff and now that they have more money, they buy them restored--meaning they are buyers but have the street cred of a restorer.

A few of these guys have both a working garage and a showplace for storing cars that are finished.

The point is, don't assume that because someone has a really, really nice, spotless and spectacular place to show off his perfect cars, that that same guy doesn't have another place where he can get dirty with them.

Case in point--I recently toured the Ingram Porsche collection n Durham. The cars are on display in an amazing space that is professionally decorated and looks like a formal ball room that has been invaded by a Porsche club. No work goes on there, but he also has a full restoration shop at another location where the real work gets done.

 

[James E]

The only problem with modern architecture is that it’s modern as per our current standards. Look at what was considered modern only 15 years ago and you realize that these types of design generally age very, very badly.

I hear you, and Ryan addressed this above, but I want to mention that the idea of a glass box like this house is not really "modern" in the sense that the design is current for 2017. The term "modern" in regards to this house is more of a name of a style that was modern in the fifties and sixties but is now kind of a classic style that retains the "modern" name but isn't really modern by the definition of the word.

The idea of the box house is called the "International Style" and originated over the '20's and '30's. Then Ludwig Mies van der Rohe translated this utilitarian commercial design into a house in 1949 in Chicago (the Farnsworth House). Philip Johnson and others ran with van der Rohe's steel and glass house over the decade of the fifties and built minimalist glass boxes to be used as houses. This is why we recognize the design as modern, when in fact, it is not much more modern than Arts and Crafts or Craftsman style. When it was on the cover of avant garde magazines in the fiftes, the style was already thirty years old.

So, this house is really a classic style, and should hold up well over time architecturally-speaking. Now, practically? It will be a hard sell when the current owner decides to move out. The market for this house is probably microscopically small.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'd rather have Ryan's Atomic Garage or Jack's 12 Gauge Garage

Have you noticed how clean Ryan and Jack keep their garages? It's proof that work can be done in them, and then the place can be cleaned up for photos. Just because the garage in the Autohaus place looks pristine that doesn't necessarily mean they don't do work in there.

 

[Jaesunel]

It has some weird angles not related to anything.

Zoning required site lines (shown as dashed lines on the drawing below) and the need to shed water influenced the form. Not random.

I love the design, but hey, I'm an Architect, what do you expect?

 

[sfanale]

Matt Risinger was the contractor on that house. He's posted a bunch of videos from during construction about different aspects of the build.

A quick YouTube search is worth the effort.

if you're too lazy to search:

Agreed, his videos are great!

 

[Bwana]

Did anybody notice that the back part of the upstairs is totally open to the whole downstairs garage? Can you imagine the fumes and smells? This would be headache city. Now granted, I keep my garage clean and pollutant free as much as possible but what about the time you spill antifreeze while draining the radiator or worse, pull off a fuel line (even fully depressured) and sprinkle gasoline around. Straight into the living space even while you're madly wiping it up.

I love the modern design but it's worse than non-functional. Even my relatively new and totally leak free BMW still smells like a car in my garage

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Did anybody notice that the back part of the upstairs is totally open to the whole downstairs garage? Can you imagine the fumes and smells? This would be headache city. Now granted, I keep my garage clean and pollutant free as much as possible but what about the time you spill antifreeze while draining the radiator or worse, pull off a fuel line (even fully depressured) and sprinkle gasoline around. Straight into the living space even while you're madly wiping it up.

I love the modern design but it's worse than non-functional. Even my relatively new and totally leak free BMW still smells like a car in my garage

Looking at the photos on the designers website, I see there's a glass wall separating the living area from the opening.

 

[apollo11]

I like it but as I age, upper floors don't interest me.

 

[James E]

When I built my shop, the county was very, very concerned that the loft above the working area was not to be used as living space. Since it was open to the space below, code prevented it from being living space, due to potential fumes and fire risk.

BTW, the only thing that house is missing is a fireman's pole. I think the architect really let us down with that omission.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Dig it! Bathroom shower was really nice.

 

[chris142]

Be better if the room hung over a cliff with a view.