ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
Award-Winning Architect in Austin, TX
We design homes shaped around the way you actually live, grounded in the realities of your lot, your budget, and local codes. We give shape to your dreams to make your home real. Whether you build with us or take your drawings to your own builder, you work with an award winning architect from the first sketch.
OUR APPROACH
Great architecture is more than a beautiful drawing.
It's a home that fits its site, respects its neighborhood, and can actually be built for a number that makes sense to you. Because we design and build, our architects draw with construction in mind from day one, so your design won’t leave builders scratching their heads.
Types of Architectural Design Projects
Whole Home Remodel Design
Historic Home Renovation Design
Commercial Space Design
Meet the Architects
Our experienced team of architects, interior designers, and builders are passionate about our craft. They work as trusted partners to bring your vision to life.
CEO, ARCHITECT
Frank Farkash
Senior Designer, Architect
Krista Whitson
Sales Director, Architect
Maggie McIntosh
Build Director, Architect
David Mosser
Our Architectural Design Process
We believe designing and building your home should be as rewarding as living in it. That’s why we plan obsessively, price transparently, and build with precision. You deserve a high-end experience from start to finish.
1
DISCOVER WHAT'S POSSIBLE
We begin with a custom Feasibility study grounded in research, examining the development regulations specific to your property and evaluating your site. For a fixed fee, we complete our research, document the property, and present two custom schemes that address your needs. We provide a construction cost estimate for each scheme to help you understand your options and assess project feasibility.
Feasibility study investment: $7,500 for remodel or addition, $8,500 for new construction. Varies for commercial.
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2
TAILOR TO YOUR NEEDS
Once the Feasibility study is complete, we move to step 2, Discovery, where we fine tune a scheme to your liking and begin to design the look and feel of the spaces in 3D and compliment our drawings with an interior design presentation we call the “style story”. When remodeling at this phase we also complete full as-built drawings of your home to serve as the foundation for our permitting and design development drawing sets.
Discovery Investment: Percentage of Construction based on Project Services
3
DESIGN & PLANNING
We fine-tune the set of drawings to exacting specifications. We serve as your guide for all architectural finishes inside and out. Along the way we provide (or work with your builder to facilitate) budget updates to help ensure your selections and contractor bidding are in-line with your financial plan. We handle permitting, coordination with any consultants like structural and geotechnical engineers, as well as lighting, landscape and interior designers spending on your project scope.
Design & Planning investment: percentage of construction, based on project services.
4
BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME
Once your permit-ready drawings are complete, the choice is yours. Take them to your own builder for a clean handoff, with a coordinated set they can bid and build from. Or continue with Moontower into a fixed-price construction contract, where the same team that designed your home sees it through to move-in day.
Completed Projects
Your project, executed with excellence.
I came across Moontower looking for someone that would understand my vision of building a well designed, small house on a tiny lot. I wanted to use simple materials in an interesting, creative way. When I met with Frank and Greg I could tell they totally understood what I wanted. They took all of my ideas and ran with them. The house far exceeded what I hoped for. They were as invested in the house as I was and also in working out any ideas I wanted to explore to achieve the best outcome. It was an awesome experience and can't recommend them highly enough!
Christal
Moontower did an extensive renovation of our 1979 kitchen, living and laundry rooms in addition to installing giant windows that are magnificent. Honestly the 8 months of design development involving my husband and I getting on same page was way more difficult than actually moving out for 7 months during demo and reno 😊 Every single person we dealt with at Moontower was very very patient and professional. They warranty their work, going above and beyond for entire year post demo dealing with inevitable nitty and gritty issues that arise. We are thrilled with the work. Special shout out to Claudia, Kyle, Nathan and Ryan for holding our hands during entire process. And many thanks to Frank Jeff David and Amber for keeping us on budget.
Jw
What a pleasure to work with this wonderful team! We have been privileged to use Moontower's services several times throughout our 20+ years in Austin, for both our home and our small business. If you are looking for knowledgable, local, down to earth, friendly, and fair folks to work with, look no further. Moontower has an amazing team and will hold your hand (as much as you would like) throughout every stage of your project. Whether just dreaming up the idea with Frank and Maggie, to making sure it fits your budget with Jeff, or getting down to brass tacks with David, you are in excellent hands with this crew.
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Testimonials
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Why Moontower
Our work leans modern and contextual. Clean lines, natural light, and homes that fit their street and your lifestyle. For over 16 years, Moontower's architects have designed luxury custom homes throughout Austin, named Austin Home's Best Architects in 2023, 2024, 2026, Best Builders five times and Best Interior Designers 3 times. Our homes have appeared on the AIA Austin Homes Tour and the Austin Modern Homes Tour, and in Dwell, Texas Architect, and Tribeza. Every home we design is drawn to fit the people who'll live in it.
7x
Austin Home Best Builder
3x
Austin Home Best Architects
16
Years Building
260+
Residential Projects Built
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Architectural design can be a standalone service. We take your project from first concept through permit-ready drawings, and you're free to build with your own contractor while you work with us for Contract Administration - to ensure your plans are built with little to no design compromise. If you'd like us to build it too, that option stays open through the design process if you’re located in and around Austin.
Yes. Your drawings are designed and signed by a registered architect on our team.
Design is quoted as a projected cost based on your project's scope, size, and complexity, and we give you that number up front before starting design. Most projects begin with a feasibility study ($7,500 for a remodel or addition, $8,500 for new construction), which produces two schemes and a construction investment estimate for each.
That's fine. We'll design your home and deliver a coordinated, permit-ready set your builder can bid and build from. We are one of the most reliable architects builders can work with because we aren’t just an architect; we’re a builder as well.
Get in Touch
To start the process or ask a question, please fill out the contact form below or give us a call. A member of our team will be in touch shortly!
Thank you for your interest in Moontower Design & Build.