Talavera Lofts

Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong

TALAVERA LOFTS

Nelsen Partners

ARCHITECTS
Nelsen Partners

CIVIL
Stantec

AREA
87842 ft²

YEAR
2022

PHOTOGRAPHS
Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Phil Crisara

MANUFACTURERS
Sto, Centria, Daltile, Guardian Glass, Mcnichols, Oldcastle Apg, Ply Gem

PROJECT MANAGER
Bob Newell

LANDSCAPE
Dwg.

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Lindsay Abati, José Aparicio

STRUCTURAL
Connect Structural

TILE DESIGN AND BRAND/SIGNAGE
Daniela Valle

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Skybeck

CATEGORY
Apartments

INTERIOR DESIGN
Pdr

MEP
Wgi

LOCATION
Austin, United States

PROJECT DESIGNER
Carson Nelsen

Talavera Lofts is a testament to Austin's commitment to affordable housing and sustainable urbanism.

Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong
Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong

With its prime location in the heart of East Austin, the development is perfectly situated to serve the community's needs.

The 93-unit building is geared towards applicants earning as little as a third of the area median income, ensuring that all Austinites have access to safe and comfortable housing.

DMA Companies, a leader in affordable housing development in Central Texas, took on the task of developing the triangle-shaped site that was left over from the Plaza Saltillo development.

Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong
Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong
Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong

The goal was to create state-of-the-art affordable housing that integrates seamlessly into the rapidly-changing neighborhood's scale and materiality.

The project is a significant milestone in East Austin's desperate need for affordable housing with first-class access to multi-modal transit.

Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong
Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong

Sustainability is at the core of Talavera Lofts' design. The project makes use of a difficult urban slice of land that was originally deemed unsuitable for residential development.

The location allows for a reduction in parking and vehicle usage, thanks to the many bus, rail, and bicycle lines adjacent to the site that connect to all points of the city.

Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong
Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong
Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong

Stormwater is routed to rain gardens behind the building, which hold and filter the water before releasing it back into the ground at a controlled rate.

The architect and landscape architect worked seamlessly to create the bermed outdoor community space adjacent to the Capital Metro light rail on the second-floor terrace.

The design includes sound buffering and high-quality windows to mitigate noise issues while maximizing daylighting and promoting individual privacy.

Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong
Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong

Additionally, the building’s orientation toward downtown provides sweeping views from both the common spaces and many of the apartments.

The Plaza Saltillo District has undergone significant gentrification pressures, making Talavera Lofts a critical development for the area's service sector employees and long-time residents at risk of regional displacement.

Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong
Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong

The building's design brings a much-needed bit of panache to the streetscape and normalizes affordable housing in development-resistant neighborhoods.

Talavera Lofts is a successful project that embodies Austin's commitment to affordable housing and sustainable urbanism.

With its prime location, state-of-the-art design, and commitment to community, Talavera Lofts is a significant milestone in East Austin's development.

Talavera Lofts
© Matthew Niemann / Patrick Y Wong


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