For architect Michael Hsu, restoring one of the city’s oldest homes was like ushering in its second homecoming. The multistory brick Victorian in Texas’s Travis Heights has been part of the neighborhood since the mid-19th century, once standing alone on a hilltop and its gracious 1.2-acre lot. “In many ways, it shows the chronology of the city and stands as a metaphor for the changes Austin has seen,” said the architect and founder of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.
The original brick structure dates to 1851 when it was the residence of James Gibson Swisher, a Texas Ranger and signatory of the Texas Declaration of Independence. It was built with bricks fired along the banks of the Colorado River. An 1889 addition, now its most visible facade, stands as an excellent example of craftsmanship and woodworking, something that was just as impressive then as it is today.
Though previous owners worked diligently to preserve the home’s character, “it was a constant maintenance project,” Hsu explained. The current owner sought to breathe new life into the residence while honoring its legacy and expanding via a modern addition. The home’s original parlor, bedrooms, and front room, unique in proportion, now flow into an open-concept glassy structure that frames views of downtown, as well as a pool and landscape beyond.
“This house is an oasis in a neighborhood that sees thousands of visitors, yet you wouldn’t even know it’s there. There’s a hedge around the front so it feels like it’s in the city, but also in a natural setting despite being just three minutes from South Congress,” Hsu added.
Due to its landmark status, Hsu collaborated with the Historic Landmark Commission and a historic color consultant to ensure the original elements remained “real, authentic, and inspired by the Victorian era,” he said. Restored woodwork and stained glass, revived by local artisans at Blue Moon Glassworks, sit alongside original paneling and even charred wood from a 1920s attic fire, now seen in one of the home’s spa-like bathrooms. The attic, a “quirky series of spaces that are unexpected” includes intimate sleeping nooks, a work space that opens to an exterior balcony, plus a Moroccan tile-wrapped bathroom.
“The details were super important to him,” Hsu said of the owner. “Every piece of hardware and every light fixture was looked at to make sure it was period appropriate.”
By contrast, the new addition is a glassy volume that embraces light and openness, with rooms more modern in scale. A Texas Lueders limestone base hugs the original brick, while inside, a white oak, “clean and slick sculptural” stairwell fabricated by Drophouse, and an elevator with a cab featuring a mural and vintage-style metal gate “stitch the floors together,” Hsu remarked.
One of the home’s hidden gems is the restored widow’s walk at the top of the house. “It’s wild to stand up there, looking out at downtown, and think about what this place must’ve felt like 200 years ago,” he reflected.
Outside, the owner has embraced a more natural vision for the landscape. In lieu of a manicured estate lawn, the grounds feature a prairie restoration, where native live oaks, wildflowers, and junipers flourish among limestone pavers. “It recalls a time when this part of Austin was a bit more wild,” he said. On temperate days, the owner retreats to the pool house, its green roof blending into the surroundings. A sunken garden, fire pit, cabana, and putting green are thoughtfully integrated across the property, forming a multifunctional landscape that feels both cultivated and untamed. More than just a preservation effort, this home offers a thoughtful framework for how to live with history but build upon it.