The Austonian: Interior Design by Gary Lee Partners

The Austonian, which will include 178 luxury homes in a high-rise setting in downtown Austin, is under construction with a planned completion date of spring 2010. Now that The Austonian’s exterior is taking its distinct form, it is time to shift the focus to what’s happening inside the building. With over 40,000 square feet of amenities, the interior design of the private amenity areas shared by residents is a key component of this Austin condo project.

When evaluating an interior design firm, The Austonian team sought a firm that could create spaces to compliment The Austonian’s unique architectural style while remaining true to Austin’s spirit. Award-winning international design firm Gary Lee Partners was chosen because of their reputation for creating memorable spaces for high-rise luxury homes. Gary Lee Partners approached design from the perspective that The Austonian’s interiors extend beyond the home into all areas of the building. With the most private amenities available in Austin, the design of areas for entertaining, watching films, playing games and working out needed to focus on the homeowners and evoke feelings of comfort and sophistication.

Because home is the physical expression of personality, Gary Lee Partners created timeless interiors that reflect Austin’s warmth and culture while accommodating both traditional and modern tastes. The Gary Lee Partners philosophy is that someone is home as soon as they enter the building. Just as one might experience in the traditional single family home setting, a sense of arrival and progression from the public to private areas is created at the Austonian. The lobby functions as a front porch; it is a setting to lounge at on a beautiful day or place to greet your neighbors and guests. The elevator lobby replaces the traditional grand staircase; it is the formal connection to the personal living spaces above. The tenant corridors are like the hallways within a home; while they tie to the aesthetic of formal areas, they are more intimate in feel and transition people into their individual living spaces.
 
The resulting designs evoke feelings of warmth – a unique blend of city sophistication and Texas hospitality with a world view. Over the coming weeks, we will bring you previews of what these public spaces will look like. Stay tuned for detailed descriptions of the interior spaces; from the lobby, to the 55th-floor Austonian Club and 56th-floor Fitness Center – we are planning to cover it all.

For more information about The Austonian, high-rise luxury homes under construction in downtown Austin, visit www.theaustonian.com.