Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture

Engaging Barley|Pfeiffer to design our retirement home was one of the smartest things we've ever done. The build of our house is far superior to typical construction in our area. More important, though, this house fits us like a glove. Their comprehensive design process incorporated not just our taste, but how we live, from the room flow to the allocation of HVAC components, etc. Living and building four hours from their Austin office was a bit of a challenge, but we coordinated well and they were on site at all critical junctures. The level of detail in the plans and specifications far exceeded what one typically gets, even in a full custom build. This was critical to ensuring the energy efficiency of our home. We've been in the home for two years and continue to be impressed with how little we spend to heat and cool it. We highly recommend the team at Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture.

I have known Peter Pfeiffer and Alan Barley for near 30 years, and their vision and abilities never cease to amaze me. They have exhibited a life time of integrity, helping many to implement and achieve their dream, all the while reaching for the future, higher standards on many levels well deserves recognition and reward. Best rewards yet to come, Neal

We have had the opportunity to work with Peter Pfeiffer and his team on projects throughout 20+ years and our experience with them has always been a good one. As a custom and creativity-driven business ourselves, we appreciate the innovativeness of their team. Barley | Pfeiffer is a firm full of talented, creative individuals who take a special attention to detail and the needs of their clients. They have also been leaders in the sustainable and energy efficient home industry and made a name for themselves with their great work in that field. Even their younger staff shows great potential for growth and will no doubt go far with their knowledge of emerging trends. If you are looking for a innovative firm who delivers high-end homes and is passionate about sustainable living look no further than Barley | Pfeiffer Architecture!

Totally recommend Barley | Pfeiffer Architecture! My experience the Barley | Pfeiffer has been exceptional. I have done small remodel projects, but nothing to the extent of my project with Barley | Pfeiffer. The scope of this project was to take a 1960 ranch (2900 sq. ft.) with low roofline, limited light, sub-optimal functionality and efficiency and transform it into a modern, clean lined, open, bright, energy efficient home while taking advantage of my beautifully wooded Tarrytown lot. I found them (Peter Pfeiffer, Alan Barley, Matt Weiger and Vanessa) to be very up front with their communications and expectation setting and offered many creative ideas to enhance the outcome of my project that also include costs and budgeting discussions. They were easy to get in touch with and set up meetings and conference calls around my schedule. As Peter and Alan got to know me through the architectural design process, I asked for a general contractor recommendations and after meeting a few I selected Ray Tonjes – best decision ever! Barley | Pfeiffer stayed involved with the project to the very end frequently checking in and doing walk throughs quickly addressing issues with “the unexpected findings of a 57 yr. old house”. Barley | Pfeiffer excelled at the overall design that fits the lot and neighborhood, creating an energy efficient home (my energy costs have been cut in half), creative problem solving, selection of products and surface coverings both interior and exterior, capitalizing on my lot/house orientation taking advantage of the light and natural air flow, doing things right the first time so I had no “fix it’s or Re-do’s” with the project. I chose their comprehensive level of service which cost a little more up front, however and it paid off before the project was finished. Overall it was a very collaborative process and I appreciate the insight and expertise of Barley | Pfeiffer Architecture. I am exceptionally happy with the results of my home – I love it!

In 1998 Katz Builders, Inc., decided to participate in the Greater Austin Home Builders Association Parade of Homes. As we planned the home we realized that the only architectural firm that met our criteria was the firm of Barley & Pfeiffer. Our goal was to build a home whose design focus was on livability, accessibility, energy efficiency and high performance. In 1998, the term was "Green". The home we built was so terrific that it was featured as part of the National NPR Planet Neighborhood. The show was divided into three one hour segments; the Katz Builders and Barley & Pfeiffer home was a part of the residential one hour piece. Since then, together we have built and remodeled other home going back as far as July of 1999, a few others were built in June of 2011 and January of 2015. We feel that, with the firm of Barley & Pfeiffer's design ability, our homeowners end up with a home that lives well, is a high performing and is very well constructed. The details of the firm's architectural plans are terrific and having very good plans makes a huge difference to the homeowner, the builder, as well as those that get to do the hands on work. We are proud to have our signature along with Barley & Pfeiffer on our homes.

My wife and I used Barley/Pfeiffer to design our lake house. Initially we thought we were going to do a major remodel. After getting that set of plans done, we then decided to go for a complete rebuild which they also did the work on. These people were real professionals through the whole process which stretched over 2 years in just the design process, not counting the 17 months of construction where they also stayed involved and provided guidance. The final product is a house that we love and has gotten numerous positive comments from our friends and guests when they see how the house is designed and laid out. Peter, Alan, Steve and Matt were great to work with and we highly recommend them.

Thoughtful, respectful and inspired comes to mind when I think of the projects I've seen of Barley Pfeiffer Architecture. Their clients love living in their Barley Pfeiffer home because it efficiently fits them and their lifestyle.

I am privileged to work with Peter Pfeiffer and his talented team at Barley Pfeiffer Architecture. Their team always appreciates his great respect and enthusiasm for building a superior home. With a great understanding of client needs, they takes a hands-on approach throughout the whole process and brings a unique perspective to each and every project. They are always cognizant of the big picture - placing equal emphasis on function, aesthetics, and energy efficiency. Barley Pfeiffer is truly an amazing architectural firm!

We've worked with Barley Pfeiffer on several projects and their Architecture and Building Science are top notch. They produce excellent working drawings and I would highly recommend comparing their work to other firms you might be interviewing. They have a fantastic team and have done stellar work in Austin (and around the world) for decades. Their experience is second to none. I highly recommend them. -Matt Risinger

I worked with Barley & Pfeiffer Architects for several years and have firsthand knowledge of their capabilities. This is a seriously good architecture firm. The combined design talent, building science and energy efficiency expertise of the partners, a practice of hiring very talented staff, and an exceptionally thorough and comprehensive approach to design and construction administration really sets this firm apart from the rest. They have evolved over the years and are quite capable of integrating good sound no-nonsense earth-conscious energy efficient design with a variety of architectural styles. They should definitely be included in your list of firms to interview if not the only firm.

Dear Alan and Peter: Jean and I love the home you gave us in 2006. I can’t say enough in praise of Barley & Pfeiffer, the staff, the vision, the professionalism, the innovation, the follow-through and the dedication to excellence of product. Once the decision to build was made we met with 6 of Austin’s top architects in an effort to find the one right for us. Not one of the first five offered the wealth of information, ideas, passion and excitement we found at Barley and Pfeiffer and, most important of all, none of them had a way to guarantee that the house in the final set of plans, once priced by a builder, would come in at our budget figure. Barley and Pfeiffer did have a way to do that and we were $4,000 under budget. Our B&P project manager, Donna Tiemann, immediately understood our concept of a modern Mexican hacienda. At each phase of construction Donna was on site with a checklist of items to inspect and discuss with the builder, Neal English. Twice she brought the foundation engineer for additional inspections. She nailed it and we love it. You and everyone on staff made us feel like family. When our house was finished it was tough to say goodbye. I highly recommend Barley & Pfeiffer to anyone wanting to build a quality home. To see a photo gallery of our Barley & Pfeiffer home go to: barleypfeiffer.com, click on residential projects, scroll down to "Su Hacienda Ideal" and click it. I think you'll love it as much as we do. Jack Schmitt Leander, TX

My landscape design/build company has worked on over 15 projects with Barley & Pfeiffer Architects and can highly endorse them. They have been extremely knowledgeable, creative, innovative, and detail oriented on every one. As leaders in the green building sciences, numerous aspects of building are considered including orientation of the home and how it sits on the land. Their sensitivity to the land is evident on each project; each project poses unique challenges that are addressed and solved in a creative and environmentally sensitive way. One of my favorite projects included a home on a very challenging steep lot. From the street, the home is tucked into the land but once you entered the home, the back opens to the canyon below and you felt like you were soaring with the eagles. Barley & Pfeiffer Architects are leaders in residential architecture and have a knack for creating modern homes for modern lifestyles but with a wonderful feeling of warmth and livability. They design homes that are meant to be live in as well as perfect for the cover any magazine.

We have built a number of homes designed by Peter and Alan. We appreciate the sustainable, energy efficient unique designs that come from the creative and pragmatic tug, expressed in each plan.

As an interior design firm, We are privileged to work with Barley and Pfeiffer Architects and their talented team of Architects. Linfield Design appreciate their thoroughness with the client. The collaborative approach consistently results in outstanding designs. They spend the time necessary to understand the clients needs, and throughout the whole process. Alan is always cognizant of the big picture and placing equal emphasis on function, aesthetics, and cost effectiveness. Barley and Pfeiffer are truly one of the best architect firms to work with in Austin!

Peter & Alan are great architects in whom clients can have total confidence. Their design skills are superior. Their programming process is comprehensive, producing a home that is uniquely suited to the client. Their judgment in how far to take that "uniqueness" is spot on. And their knowledge of building science is second to none. Their extensive review & billing system prevents projects from moving forward when they shouldn't, which is a good thing (work with a poorly-organized architect and you will pay dearly for it). Peter and Alan and their staff are all fine people of high integrity - might be the single most important factor. We wouldn't hesitate to work with Barley & Pfeiffer Architects again in the future.

We came to Barley & Pfeiffer after exploring a lot of options for our old but not-distinctive house. We were impressed with the way Peter Pfeiffer's house, which we saw on a home tour, embodied sustainable building practices without looking funky. We wanted a project that would incorporate the details that we loved from our old house with smart, energy efficient construction and a contemporary layout suitable for our growing family. We found that Barley & Pfeiffer as a firm provided all the skills we needed to come out at the end with the house we wanted. Alan's design skills, Peter's building science knowledge, and Scott's detailed project management work all combined to give us a beautiful house that works really well for our family, has very low maintenance requirements, and consumes dramatically less energy than most other houses, both of a similar size and much smaller. The money we have not spent on heating and cooling this house in the past seven years could well pay for a new car. If you are going to spend the money to substantially renovate an existing home or build a new home, think carefully about what it will cost to maintain what you end up with. "Green building" is a trend now and many builders and architects claim to be "green," but few firms have the depth of expertise and years of dedication to sustainable building that Barley & Pfeiffer can provide. What you spend up front on excellent design and construction management will be recouped many times over in savings on the cost of living and maintenance. We enjoyed working with Barely & Pfeiffer and would choose them again.