When they met about six years ago, architect Chris Krager and builder Russ Becker realized that they had some common interests.
“We both appreciate modern architecture,” remembers Becker, who until the last big bull market in Austin residential development had confined his business model to government and commercial projects. “I liked the kind of projects that Chris was designing.”
The pair also discovered a shared entrepreneurial bent; teaming up to create a couple of mixed-use projects, including renovation of an old commercial building that now houses Beck-Reit and Sons—Becker’s construction contracting company, and KRDB—Krager’s design build firm.
Having developed several residential sites during the Austin housing market boom in 2003/2004, Becker felt ready to move from his usual four-to eight-unit parcels to something larger. At the same time, Krager envisioned a project of sufficient size and scale to bring architect-designed, compact modern homes, coupled with such green features as solar panels and geothermal heating and cooling, within reach of an average buyer. With this meeting of the minds, SOL Austin took shape.
Krager, who holds a business degree as well as his architectural degree earned at the University of Texas, had a strong leaning toward building a development that would make the reality of “green” accessible to a diverse population—a mixed demographic of age and economic groups.
“During Austin’s boom years, we saw many buildable parcels in the transitional neighborhood of East Austin, where we had previously sited a number of small projects, taken over by high-end developers. They were pricing out the average buyer, as well as long-time members of the community.”
Game Plan
Partnering with the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation, a 30-year-old nonprofit community organization, as well as the city housing authority, the plan evolved to offer 40% of the new development—16 houses—as rental units or subsidized units for purchase, with rebates to the housing authority of a portion of the home’s increased value, plus subsidy cost, if a subsidized unit were resold.
ANATOMY OF A ZERO-NET-ENERG HOME
A SOL house combines the latest products and technologies with good building science and a modest floorplan.
Overhangs at south-facing windows are designed to shade the summer sun and embrace passive heating in the winter.
Careful arrangement of windows allows for effective natural lighting throughout the home so that no powered lights are needed during the day.
Passive design allows for effective cross ventilation through the entire house, reducing reliance on HVAC during hot summers.
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