The practice traces its roots to Emily Little Architects, established in 1983, and adopted the Clayton Korte name in 2020.
Independent editorial profile
Clayton Korte
Austin + San Antonio
Current practice since 2005
Residential + ranch
Wineries + hospitality
Adaptive reuse
Public spaces
An Austin–San Antonio architecture and interiors practice known for site-responsive houses, ranch and vineyard work, hospitality, adaptive reuse and public spaces, supported by a substantial national, state and local award record.
Best suited for: custom residences and ranch properties, winery and vineyard facilities, hospitality projects, adaptive reuse and public-facing spaces where the client values context, craft, climate response and close coordination between architecture and interiors.
At a glance
Studios on North Lamar Boulevard in Austin and North St. Mary’s Street in San Antonio.
Architecture, interior design, experience design, planning, programming and related project services.
Paul Clayton, AIA; Brian Korte, FAIA; and partner Kristen Brown, AIA, RID.
Vineyard Residence and Cayucos Ridge Barn were selected in the statewide design awards.
Hill Country Wine Cave in 2022 and Kingsbury Commons at Pease Park in 2023.
Editorial overview
Context, craft and use rather than a single house style
Clayton Korte’s portfolio moves from compact private retreats and ranch compounds to wineries, restaurants, hotels, parks and the reuse of historic industrial buildings. The consistent thread is a close reading of site and existing fabric, paired with durable materials, strong indoor–outdoor relationships and an effort to make architecture and interiors feel like one coordinated experience.
Recent recognition spans residential, agricultural and public work
Vineyard Residence and Cayucos Ridge Barn received Texas Society of Architects Design Awards in 2026. The record also includes national AIA Small Project Awards for Hill Country Wine Cave and Kingsbury Commons, a 2025 Residential Design Architecture Award for Hill Country Retreat and current recognition for Pullman Market’s adaptive reuse.
Awards are extensive; project fit still requires direct qualification
The firm publishes detailed project, team and awards information, but fees, typical construction budgets, current availability and standardized delivery scopes are not public. The firm’s count of more than 100 design awards is treated as firm-reported context rather than a substitute for independently documented project evidence.
Ranking placements — 2026
#6
Texas Architecture Index
Strong statewide placement for a broad body of residential, hospitality, public-space and adaptive-reuse work supported by current awards.
#4Texas Residential Architects
Supported by Hill Country work, ranch and vineyard projects, and current recognition for compact, site-responsive residences.
#6Best Residential Architects in Austin
Austin-specific placement for custom homes and renovations shaped by landscape, material detail and integrated interiors.
#7Sustainability & Performance
Recognizes passive strategies, reuse of existing structures, reduced material demand and projects that work closely with topography and climate.
#8Placemaking & Adaptive Reuse
Supported by projects including Pullman Market, Kingsbury Commons, Design Office and multiple hospitality conversions in Austin and San Antonio.
Selected projects
The projects below illustrate the practice’s range and the evidence behind its ranking placements. Project imagery will be added following rights clearance.
Hill Country Wine Cave
Why it matters: a private wine cellar and lounge inserted into an existing limestone excavation. The project uses the thermal conditions of the cave, a removable wood insert and a restrained entry to minimize its visual and environmental presence.
View official project page →Kingsbury Commons at Pease Park
Why it matters: the project combines rehabilitation of the historic Tudor Cottage with modest new support buildings integrated into the park landscape. It received a national AIA Small Project Award in 2023.
View official project page →Pullman Market
Why it matters: the former Samuels Glass industrial building was retained as the framework for a market, restaurants and gathering spaces at Pearl, preserving the shell and its material history while adding a new civic and culinary program.
View official project page →Vineyard Residence
Why it matters: a compact house that uses a one-room-wide plan, prevailing-wind protection, deep overhangs and a roof-mounted solar array to connect daily living to the vineyard landscape without excessive scale.
View official project page →Evidence ledger
Evidence grades describe the independence of the source, not the architectural quality of the practice. Grade C items are retained for useful context but are not weighted like independently documented awards or official records.
| Claim | Grade | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Society of Architects Design Award, 2026 — Vineyard Residence | B | Texas Society of Architects | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Texas Society of Architects Design Award, 2026 — Cayucos Ridge Barn | B | Texas Society of Architects | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| AIA Small Project Award, 2023 — Kingsbury Commons at Pease Park | A | American Institute of Architects | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Texas Society of Architects Design Award, 2023 — Hill Country Wine Cave | B | Texas Society of Architects | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| AIA Small Project Award, 2022 — Hill Country Wine Cave | A | American Institute of Architects archive · 2022 recipient record | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Texas Society of Architects Design Award, 2022 — Kingsbury Commons at Pease Park | B | Texas Society of Architects | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Residential Design Architecture Awards Citation, 2025 — Hill Country Retreat | B | Residential Design | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| ENR Texas & Louisiana Best Project, 2025 — Pullman Market | B | Engineering News-Record · Texas Architect project review | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Brian Korte elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2020 | A | Texas Society of Architects fellows directory | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Current offices, leadership and firm history | C | Firm studio page · Firm contact page | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| 40+ staff and more than 100 design awards | C | Firm studio page · Firm awards archive | Jul. 26, 2026 |
Read the full evidence-grade definitions
Grade A means a claim is supported by an independent national record or official registry. Grade B means it is supported by a professional jury, recognized publication or regional institution. Grade C means it was reported by the firm and has not yet been independently verified in full. View the evidence standards.
Practice information
Leadership
Paul Clayton, AIA, LEED AP, leads the Austin office. Brian Korte, FAIA, leads the San Antonio office and much of the practice’s residential, ranch and vineyard work. The firm named Kristen Brown, AIA, RID, a partner in 2026. Nathan Quiring, AIA, serves as a director and leads business-development efforts; Emily Little, FAIA, is partner emerita.
Licensure and registration
Registration review in progress. Texas business-registration information is being checked against the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners registry. Registration confirms legal standing to practice and is not an editorial endorsement.
Services and specialties
Custom HomesRanch & Luxury ResidentialHospitalityAdaptive ReuseInterior ArchitectureMixed Use & CommercialPublic Spaces
Considering Clayton Korte for a project?
Review the practice’s official portfolio or submit a project brief to compare firms with documented experience relevant to your site, project type, adaptive-reuse constraints, interior-design needs and desired level of architectural involvement.
Introductions and referral inquiries do not affect ranking positions or evidence grades.
Related research and rankings
Profile changelog
- Profile structure, current leadership, selected projects, evidence ledger and client guidance revised. Sources rechecked; edition evidence cutoff remains July 13, 2026.
- Initial editorial profile and statewide ranking placements recorded.