Webber + Studio, Architects is a full-service architectural firm founded in 1997 by David
Webber, AIA. A native Texan and Austinite, Webber graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with highest honors a short five years prior to founding his firm.
The firm places its greatest focus on a commitment to serving its clients, guided by four principles: Regionalism, Functionalism, Expressionism and Minimalism. Its confidence in design allows it to place its clients’ needs first and deliver compelling results that raise even the most mundane to loftier heights.
The award-winning firm has developed a rich and diverse portfolio of projects that have earned it praise in its community through peer recognition, architectural tours of built projects, news features, as well as exposure in multiple national and international publications.
A member of the American Institute of Architects and the Texas Society of Architects. David is active with several local organizations; he is on the Board of Directors at Frameworks Community Development Corp., Board of Advisors at the AMOA (Austin Museum of Art) and was Board Chair at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum.
Meet David Webber’s Home: 2903 Wade Avenue
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An Interview with David Webber
Q: What is it about architecture in general and modern architecture in particular that excites you enough to make it your profession?
A: I am not sure. I knew I wanted to be an architect from the moment I was a young child and have never wavered from that interest. I have always been interested in seeing things put together, seeing space get created and then, and that has been the gratifying aspect of my career choice. Regarding modern architecture, my main interest is that modern design thinking actually makes more sense than traditional. Too often traditional design is based in nostalgia, or even shockingly fear. It is rare that any set of real NEEDS would drive design to culminate in something very traditional. Modern design is inherently more truthful if the ‘modern’ designs are a by-product of problem-solving, which is our focus. We actually do not try very hard to be modern as much as we try to be effective problem-solvers. Invariably that makes our work modern.
Q: Tell us something about you or your work that differentiates you and/or your work?
A: We have a four point philosophy that governs all the decisions we make: Functionalism, Expressionism, Regionalism, and Minimalism.
Q: Give us your list of the five buildings, anywhere in the world, that have most inspired your design philosophy.
A: The Pantheon in Rome, Sydney Opera House, Guggenheim Bilbao (though I’ve never seen it in person), La Madeleine de Vezelay and all of the city of Rome.
Q: In 500 words or less, describe what you would do, architecturally, to Austin if you could design it to be your dream city.
A: Soapbox time!!!! I would increase the population density five fold. Not kidding. The most livable and sustainable cities in North America are places such as Vancouver, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Toronto, Seattle, etc. Even cities like Minneapolis, which is still pretty sprawling, has great livability and sustainability. Those cities have population densities of: 13,051 people per square mile; 11,864/sq mi; 17,179/sq mi; 12,752/sq mi; 10,287/sq mi; 7361/sq mi respectively. Even Minneapolis is 7019/sq mi. AUSTIN’S density is an appallingly, sprawlingly low 2653/sq mi.
While we probably think we do well compared to other southern sprawling cities, we are actually not nearly as dense as Houston, Los Angeles, or even San Antonio which is nearly 30% more dense: 3623/sq mi; 8092/sq mi; and 3401/sq mi respectively. These are examples of cities that I never hear Austinites clamoring to emulate. And, in fact, we are usually holding them up as examples of what we do not want to become. And, yet, we are following those sprawling suburban prototypes better than they are.
Urban density is the cornerstone to livable, walkable communities and is the proven accompanying trait to some of North America’s nicest places. We should be absolutely ashamed that we espouse the concept of wanting a livable, walkable, sustainable city and yet we are working so terribly hard in some or our policies to move away from that. As a city, we need to recognize, and get over our own fears regarding, the effects that density brings.
