jacob t. middleton, aia




work

architecture
    10. breaking character
    09. cruising rhyolite
    08. performitory
    07. purple plushy catwalk
    06. holly haus
    05. chronicles out west
    04. at journey’s end
    03. made in asherton
    02. intakes/outtakes
    01. a sanctuary
theatre
    05. sashayed away
    04. the vanya project
    03. topdog/underdog
    02. drowning
    01. the tempest


about

  1. jacob t. middleton is a Texas native based in New York City. he holds a Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture and has studied at New York University Tisch School of the Arts in the Graduate Department of Design for Stage & Film. his work has been featured by Columbia University School of the Arts, Spectacular+Texas Architect Magazine, ISSUE by UTSOA, and Archisource.
  2. jacob is an architect at Dattner Architects. previously he has collaborated with Bates Masi ArchitectsClickspring Designdots, Overlay Office, and Magic Architecture, among others.
  3. he is interested in creating work at a variety of scales that investigates performance, explores bad taste, embraces low culture, and questions existing typologies.



contact

  1. jtmidd2021(at)gmail (dot) com
  2. instagram
  3. linkedin

holly haus

a case for peculiarity within density

In 2019, the Holly neighborhood of East Austin was dubbed the 24th coolest neighborhood to live in the world. This neighborhood has one of the most vivid histories in all of Austin. For years, Holly has been a bastion of working-class, predominantly Latine citizens, who carved out a multi-generational community in the face of the city’s early 20th-century segregation policies. The neighborhood been fighting for itself for several decades—first against being a dumping ground for environmental hazards (a power plant and a leaking gas tank farm) and now against gentrification as its proximity to downtown and the riverfront became a valuable commodity.

The current average asking price for a home in Holly is $384 per square foot. However, most of these homes are appraised at a value of $160 per square foot. Moreover, large contemporary homes are scattered amongst historic bungalows making the apparent gap in wealth and resources even more extreme. A one-bedroom apartment in the neighborhood averages $2000 per month but lacks the privacy and outdoor space that the single-family homes in Holly provide.

This proposal for the site at Pleasant Valley and Fifth aims to combat the issues prevalent in the Holly neighborhood through a new housing typology – the missing middle. The mat structure derived from a 20’-0” x 20’-0” grid relates to the neighborhood’s context and scale. By utilizing a regular grid, shared walls, and modular rooms, construction costs dip greatly when compared to single family home construction. Units are able to expand, contract, or share spaces based on the economic and social desires of residents. The modular system is based on the notion of economic variability – what you own can change over time. Every unit possesses three amenities to incorporate a sense of ownership and individuality – the front door, a parking spot, and private outdoor space.

Further, the project aims to address five architectural ambitions:
I. Combating gentrification through ownership -- a wider variety of home-owners can be envisioned than that of single-family housing in the area.
II. Negotiation of scales -- the project is sited between residential and industrial districts. Holly Haus mitigates these extremes through its massing.
III. Efficiency within complexity -- using prefabricated elements and a finite number of formal gestures, the project is complex while remaining efficient.
IV. Environmental reclamation of site -- utilizing carbon neutral materials challenges the site’s history as an environmental dumping ground.
V. Individuality over anonymity -- Holly Haus prioritizes the individual over the collective and achieves this through its formal expression.


project information
location: austin, texas
date: 2020
type: research, urban planning, housing


credits
project team: aubry klingler, jacob t. middleton


recognition
Texas Architect 2021 Studio Award Winner
published in Texas Architect Magazine
published in ISSUE 17
UTSOA Design Excellence nominee






5th street approach; holly haus mimics the rhythm of the existing neighborhood.



a diagrammatic massing strategy was implemented in response to the site’s peculiar shape, the context of the neighborhood, and the architectural ambition of the housing complex. the final form prioritizes porosity and moments of public & private between units.






labyrinthine plan generates unique moments for public & private occupation.




individuality is expressed in elevation & section. repetitive dormers add sectional interest, facilate passing cooling, and allow light to enter interior spaces.



 
a finite number of wall panel types mitigate construction, cost, and form.



   

courtyards permeate building mass throughout the project. the variety of courtyard typologies facilitate different interactions between residents and their outdoor spaces in terms of public and private-ness.



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