Cranfill Apartments, Austin, Texas
historic place
The Cranfill Apartments, located in Austin, Texas, are recognized as a historic place. Dr. Thomas Cranfill, an English professor at the University of Texas, commissioned this three-unit apartment building. He intended it as a residence and studio for his partner, photographer and author Hans Beacham. Completed in 1960, the apartments were designed by Harwell Hamilton Harris, who served as Director of the University's School of Architecture from 1951 to 1955. Harris designed the apartments in his regional modern style. This style featured an open interior layout, board-and-batten redwood siding, and exposed concrete block. The design emphasized natural light, material honesty, and the connection between the building and its landscape. Harris also designed the nearby Cranfill House, built in 1955. The Cranfill Apartments received a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark designation in 2015. This site is significant for its architectural design and its association with Harwell Hamilton Harris's work in Austin.