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Talk Design

April Clark & Ed Richardson

The Daniel Residence is a modern re-interpretation of the shotgun typology responding to both the owner’s Louisiana roots and the long narrow nature of her property. Visitors enter past the formal sitting room into a central vestibule which flows in an enfilade procession between kitchen / dining and the sitting. In section, 11’ and 13’ ceilings and extensive glazed openings offset the compact planimetric constraints of the site. Beyond the public spaces, a u-shaped stepped retaining system receives the intertwined forms of the principal suite and pool with the principal bedroom occupying a special place of prospect, looking out to the waterline. Back at the vestibule, a floating steel stair takes visitors to the second floor living space where the procession flows to an oversized screened porch overlooking Austin’s downtown skyline.


April has over 16 years of professional experience in architecture and design specializing in sustainable projects.  She has designed award winning residential, commercial and institutional projects ranging in scale from large campus projects to smaller single building and residential projects.  April’s research and experience in sustainable design has been published internationally. Previous commercial and institutional clients have included the University of New Mexico, Institute of American Indian Arts and Girls Inc. 


In a desire to focus solely on sustainable projects, April launched Clark | Richardson Architects with her partner Ed Richardson, in 2009.  Many firms have a design sensibility that is either traditional or modern or somewhere in between. We have done it all. C|R approaches each project individually, looking at the needs and desires of the client, individual aspects of the site and the climate of the area and creates a design that brings it all together arriving at the most elegant solution possible.  C|R designs sustainable renovation, residential and commercial projects with the goal of creating holistic experiences through form, sustainability and attention to detail.


Ed Richardson is originally from New Orleans and has practiced architecture in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Texas. He specializes in custom residential and commercial architecture.  

He studied architecture on at both Yale University, where he was awarded the Blanning Prize, the Parsons Memorial Medal and a merit scholarship, and the University of Virginia. Ed has instructed both undergraduate and advanced studio courses at the University of Texas and University of New Mexico. 


Ed was the editor of the 39th edition of Perspecta, the Yale Architecture Journal, titled Re_Urbanism (MIT, 2007) which investigates the transformation of capital cities in the era of globalization. He has also contributed articles to MONU, Texas Architect and MasContext. He was a participant / winning entrant in AIA DesCours 2010 in New Orleans and was a panelist in the inaugural 2011 SXSW Eco conference on the topic of biomimetics.

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