Marble Falls Arthouse

Conceived as a place to make great art accessible, Arthouse brings together a public gallery and creative workspace in the heart of downtown Marble Falls. Designed for a compact infill site, the project transforms a small-town setting into a welcoming cultural destination where art is woven into everyday community life. Serving as both a civic and cultural anchor for Marble Falls, Arthouse is an intimate yet inviting space where art, architecture, and community come together in a setting that feels grounded, welcoming, and open to all.

Located on a compact infill site in the heart of Marble Falls, Arthouse was shaped around a simple program—a public-facing gallery paired with a creative workspace—while pursuing a vision far greater than its modest footprint. The design draws from the scale, rhythm, and material character of neighboring storefronts, including a circa-1910 post office next door, reinforcing the continuity of the streetscape rather than competing with it. In doing so, the project demonstrates how contemporary architecture can respectfully contribute to the evolving identity of a small-town downtown.

A contemplative courtyard, designed by fourth-generation Japanese gardener Sada Uchiyama, extends the project’s quiet sense of refuge outdoors, offering a space for pause and reflection within the urban fabric.

Material choices and a restrained formal language establish the building as a quiet backdrop to the artwork it houses, allowing the collection and its changing exhibitions to remain the primary focus.

The ground floor functions as an open arts center with rotating exhibitions, while a discreet second level provides a private workspace and administrative offices.