A Hill County Eichler, Stenger pursued his own vision of midcentury cool   Fitting in wasn?t a concern for Arthur Dallas Stenger. Known to his friends and family as A.D., the Austin-based architect built homes with his clients in mind?airy contemporary designs, locally sourced and budget-conscious to fit the needs of a generation of returning vets and middle-class homeowners. But he only designed them for himself. Both a developer and architect, Stenger plotted, planned, and in many cases helped assemble his own personal vision of midcentury cool, constructing new developments just beyond Austin city limits so he?d be outside the range of local building inspectors.

A college dropout who drew upon the smooth silhouettes of airplanes for his cantilevered constructions, Stenger pursued his own singular vision. In many ways, his ?office mascot? was a stand-in for his indomitable spirit. A long-time hunter, Stenger decided one day that he would shoot a polar bear. In 1960, when this was still legal, he flew to Spitsbergen, Norway; boarded a small wooden boat with a guide; and found a bear he?d later rope, stuff, and display near his desk.
Andrea Calo
An A.D. Stenger-designed home.

Biography
The son of an architect, Stenger grew up in both Dallas and Shreveport, Louisiana. During World War II, he served in the Navy as a member of the Seabees construction battalion. He spent much of his time witnessing action in the South Pacific, looking f...