What Clients are saying
"I am neck deep in a hugh addition/ remodel project on a home in the Crestview neighborhood. I chose Richard Hughes as my architect, and he has been incredible! First of all, he is such a nice man and so easy to work with! His ideas on how to open up, modernize, and improve the functionality of this modest 1950s home have been amazing! As the project progressed, Richard personally stopped by several times to see how things were going and even met with the engineer there to help us determine what would need to be done in order to vault all the ceilings, which had not in our original plans. Richard has been very generous with his time on the phone, emails and texts as the project expanded! He was so patient with my numerous changes! He also hooked me up with a great engineer and a permit expediting service. I am so excited and thrilled at how this house is being totally transformed! I plan on hiring Richard to do plans for a new construction project I am planning for 2020 as well. I would not even consider working with anyone else!" --- Laura C. Austin, TX
"We hired Richard Hughes of Element 5 Architecture to design an addition and remodel to our historically contributing home in Clarksville. The project was full of challenges including tight setbacks, a very small lot, McMansion ordinance, and of course an unrealistic budget. With our set of challenges design accuracy was extremely important and I am so thankful for Richard's experience. Richard is incredibly patient, attentive, and creative in his approach. I always felt like he listened and successfully interpreted our interest and vision.....as crazy as they were. I would not hesitate to refer him or use him for future projects." --- Kris H. Austin, TX
"Richard Hughes was recommended to us by a neighbor that had worked with him when Richard was with a well known local architecture firm. He was the second architect we spoke to and we really had no idea what we were jumping into. He is very reasonably priced and easy to work with.
I have heard that some architects try to emphasize their own personal agendas in how the final product should ultimately materialize. This was absolutely not the case with Richard. He was very accommodating to our wants, as well as advising on our needs. He was very creative in maximizing the limited space to get the most usable area possible.
Specific to our project, Richard helped completely renovate our early 1900's home from roughly 1200 sf to 2100 sf. One of the greatest compliments we get is that it feels so much larger than that and we agree. Richard was very willing to work with our desire to keep an old Victorian feel to the house, but added modern touches to it that we never would have imagined on our own. If we didn't necessarily agree with him on specific aspects of the project, he would hear us out and be agreeable to a happy compromise.
Richard was of huge help with the City permitting process, which is difficult in it's own right, but even more so when working within a historical district and active neighborhood association. He was also a great liaison between us and the builder. It's obvious he is well versed in all aspects of construction and willing to meet and discuss any and all issues with our best interests at heart.
I still keep in touch with Richard and will absolutely use him again in the future, regardless the size of the job.
He really did exceed our expectations in completely resurrecting a neglected rental house into a
magnificent home." --- Hunt F. Austin, TX
"Richard did a wonderful job designing a remodel for our little Hyde Park area house that was built in 1939. When we bought the place, it truly was falling apart. People thought we were crazy to remodel, but with Richard's design we were able to save it and make it livable, cute and comfortable. He also designed an addition to the house which took into account two large pecan trees and the flood plain. On both the remodel and the addition, he designed within our budget and made it possible to get a more high-end look and feel within our constraints. He really listened to what we wanted and needed. Also, Richard was super knowledgeable about the city of Austin building code restrictions and even brought an arborist out early on so we knew exactly what we needed to do with regard to the trees on our property. So five stars for a great experience that ended with us getting exactly what we needed and wanted." --- Leslie B. Austin, TX