Eberly Hospitality Project, Austin Commercial Interior Refurbishment Project, Architecture Photos

Eberly Hospitality Project in Austin

Restaurant, Bar, Cafe Redevelopment in Texas, USA – design by Clayton & Little

Jan 10, 2020

Eberly

Architecture: Clayton & Little

Location: Austin, Texas, United States of America

photo © Merrick Ales

Eberly, inspired by sources both humble and lofty, marries a former 1970s print shop building with a salvaged bar from the storied Cedar Tavern in New York’s Greenwich Village to create a sophisticat-ed bar, cafe and restaurant in central Austin. Following the owner’s purchase of the legendary bar, hand-carved mahogany sections were carefully transported and restored with the goal to again sur-round the bar top with a creative atmosphere worthy of the original. Working within the raw con-crete and glass context of the print shop, the design team divided the building into three distinct en-vironments: a “restored” Cedar Tavern, a mod Café, and a book-filled Study.

photos © Chloe Gilstrap

Located just south of the Colorado River, Eberly is within walking distance to numerous retail stores, offices, parks and event centers. The building sits on the edge of downtown Austin and the Zilker Neighborhood. The street-facing Café greets visitors with sleek forms and rich textures. Inspired by English greenhouses, the Study serves as coffee shop by day, filling the large, open plan building with natural light, and as extension of the Tavern at night, with glowing openings to the adjacent court-yard and 4,500-square-foot roof-top bar.

photo © Merrick Ales

Intended to reflect the Texas capital’s independent spirit, Eberly was conceived as a gathering place where risk takers, creative types, and liberated thinkers could connect and feed off of each other’s energy and creativity. The establishment’s visually layered spaces support this intent. As patrons enter the Café, a dark, almost brooding atmosphere defines the space. The moody darkness is con-trasted by the light-filled Study immediately adjacent to the entry which draws the eye to, and through, the space back to the historic Cedar Tavern.

photo © Chloe Gilstrap

The existing building’s open layout features a regular column grid and CMU walls that largely drove the new spatial division. The dividing wall between the Café and Study share a line that separated the former print shop front offices from the rear floor production. The design works within the exist-ing structural module to create a series of balanced, proportionate spaces.

photo © Merrick Ales

Circulation and flow dictated the secondary organizing principle. The Study and kitchen hallway serve as the central spine connecting the Café back to the Cedar Tavern. Creating a spatial flow to result in a memorable experience necessitated reworking the organization of the 10,000-square-foot building. Visual layering and spatial connectivity along with stylistically distinct yet complementary interiors serve as an invitation for patrons to explore the restaurant.

photo © Chloe Gilstrap

To deliver on the owner’s desire for a more intimate space, the Café features a lowered, coffered ceil-ing which sets the tone upon entry. The mahogany wood wall panels were inspired by midcentury modern design but with an Art Nouveau twist, bringing a modern take on old contemporary furniture and wall paneling. Velvet upholstery covers central and perimeter banquette seating. A large, central banquette accommodates large groups while remaining flexible enough to separate out for smaller parties. Ample banquette seating was chosen to foster the notion of the place as ideal for gathering, thinking, drinking, and dining.

photo © Merrick Ales

At 30 feet long and 10 feet tall, the Cedar Tavern bar’s presence is impressive notwithstanding its 150-year history of notable patronage, including that of Jackson Pollock and Jack Kerouac. Speaking to the rich history of the Cedar Tavern, brown and oxblood tufted leather sofas surround coffee ta-bles in a lounge configuration to promote gathering and conversations. Vibrant blue barstools with brass tacks contrast with the mahogany bar, while gold and purple ottomans are arranged through-out to enliven darker, rich tones. Brass serves to unify all spaces, and is showcased in custom de-signed and fabricated light fixtures that surround the columns. Exposed steel beams support the ad-ditional weight of the new rooftop patio.

To create an appropriately light-filled Study, the ceiling height was increased and the roof was opened to showcase the new addition of an extended steel skylight monitor above. The monitor adds visual lightness to the space while maintaining the structural integrity. The Study’s furnishings take cues from Cedar Tavern, albeit in simplified forms so as not to detract from the light-filled steel structure. Carefully curated books, curios, and plants adorn the walls creating a sense of a lived-in space. Custom designed and fabricated wall sconces continue the industrial character of the steel and utilize heat sink fins to create the unique style of the lights.

photo © Merrick Ales

The interplay between the Café, Study, and Cedar Tavern is key to changing the mood between spac-es, producing varied dining experiences, and options that work together to create a rich experience.

photo © Merrick Ales

Eberly Hospitality Project, Austin – Building Information

Architecture: Clayton & Little

Project team
Paul Clayton, Principal
Sam Manning, Project Architect

Consultant Team
Clayton & Little (architecture)
WIT, Mickie Spencer (interior design)
ICON Design + Build (general contractor)
JM Structural Engineering (structural engineer)
Bay & Associates (mechanical & electrical engineer)
N. Wasserstrom & Sons (kitchen designer)
Longaro & Clarke Consulting Engineers (civil engineer)
McClendon and Associates (permit expediter)
Steel House MFG (steel work in the study)

photo © Chloe Gilstrap