Rich materials distinguish urban contemporary asking $1.35M

Some things to note: Yes, this two-story contemporary is in Central Austin, but it’s also on the edge of what is technically West Campus, a smaller area within the former. It’s a couple of houses from busy 29th Street and easily within roaming territory of UT students and other packs of twenty-somethings.

Nevertheless, there’s something to be said for the leafy streets at the edge of the neighborhood, especially the western enclaves one finds when approaching Shoal Creek from the east. This particular home, moreover, was designed by award-winning Austin architect Tom Hurt. Built in 2013, it distills the lessons of contemporary local architecture of the early 2000s, keeping primarily the features that have proven the most enduring: the use of high-quality, theretofore unusual materials and careful design that disguises its complexity as minimal, light- and outdoor-focused, and simultaneously open and private.

The 2,883-square-foot home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Some of those fine, trademark-2000s features include polished concrete and bleached hardwood floors; level 5 (smooth, plaster-looking) drywall finishes; professional grade appliances and sleek cabinetry; large windows opening to lush greenery; and courtyards, patios, and a two-story screened porch with a balcony.

The home also has a one-bedroom, one-bathroom detached studio that has already been permitted as a short-term rental. It’s listed by Moreland Properties.