February 24, 2024
I’ve been wanting to visit Cosmic, a coffee shop and brewpub in South Austin, for a few years, mostly because of the landscaping (shown at Central Texas Gardener). But I just haven’t gotten down there yet. Then last year I heard about the new Cosmic — Cosmic Saltillo — in East Austin at 1300 E. 4th Street, and suddenly I was seeing it all over Instagram. Christy Ten Eyck shared photos of the landscape design her firm did there. My sister-in-law posted an Instagram from the outdoor seating. Then my daughter did it. I was the last one to see it! My impatience was palpable. Finally, the day after Christmas, I rounded up a few family members for a visit so I could see for myself.
And yes, it’s totally charming, with that contemporary-rustic Austin vibe and Ten Eyck signatures like vine shading, steel-tube fountains, and trough-style water features. Here’s the beer garden, where people were basking in the sun the day after Christmas, eating tacos and drinking coffee or drinking a holiday cocktail or beer. Vines climb up the tall posts and will eventually crawl along the wires of the A-frame to shade the space. Outdoor fans are on hand to keep the air moving.
Along one side of the yard, a limestone-edged pond mimics a Hill Country stream. At the opposite end, a head-high steel pipe pours water into a large tank in the pond.
Water lilies were still blooming in late December. The red one is a fake poinsettia put up for Christmas. I wish I had seen the pumpkin display they did last fall – tons pumpkin.
Beneath tall trees along the property line, old relic walls with preserved graffiti are left standing to create cozy outdoor rooms, where old-style lawn chairs offer movable seating around low tables. Rooms overlook the pond.
This is a fascinating piece of Ten Eyck design, as described on their website:
“Once a bustling industrial hub, Cosmic Saltillo has brought new life to the abandoned Texaco Depot through a layered approach that artfully blends existing features with new ones. Incorporating reclaimed materials on site for paving and water features minimizes project waste while helping to preserve the unique character of the site. The plants flow freely and climb over the building materials, softening the facade and placing visitors among nature, not next to it. A newly constructed staircase and elevator take visitors to the top of the roof where they rise into the treetops with views west of downtown Austin. Located along the multi-modal Red Line Parkway, the new access terrain invites visitors to explore its many nooks and crannies. Consequently, this unusual and exuberant design scheme has transformed this neighborhood relic into a bustling urban garden that will sustainably serve the community for years to come.”
Here is the pipe fountain from the other end of the pond.
The semi-circular counter offers good people-watching under the roof patio.
I love rounded white lights — like floating river rocks or miniature clouds.
Another view, with the beer garden behind and the old Texaco walls behind.
View of downtown Austin from the rooftop patio
The vines are pulling up wires here too and hopefully will offer shade until summer. Below, silver saw palmetto, bamboo muhly and asparagus fern float from the ground.
When I visited the restroom, I discovered colorful cactus wallpaper.
On the entry-exit path, the contemporary trough of the fountain flows along a screen of metal mesh. Steel pipes pour water into the trough.
All this is beautiful and a good reason to spend some time on the terrace. Which we did, while enjoying tacos and cocktails.
Pedestrian center
Afterwards, we walked down the street to explore the area and found the Centro pedestrian paseo, with its striking brick pattern and string of overhead lights. Nudge Design created the landscape design here:
“This development is in the heart of Austin’s Satillo District, with the Satillo Metro Station immediately to the south. The vibrancy and variation of the nearby landscape is mixed with the functional feel of the adjacent railway. The project contains a park area that restores and transforms a dormant part of the roadway into an active urban space with touches of nature, perfect for markets and celebrations.”
A mosaic of tiles fills the wall along the rain garden (I should have painted that), offering images of cowgirls playing guitar…
…frogs…
…and a man offering a flower to an armadillo! I must go back and explore the area again soon, taking advantage of these beautiful early spring days.
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Digging Deeper
Attend the third annual Budding Out Plant Sale and Festival on March 16th at John Fairey Garden in Hempstead. Rare and distinctive plants from the garden nursery and selected plant vendors will be for sale. Additional offerings include art, ceramics, jewelry, food, music and presentations. Admission: $5 for members, $10 for non-members, children 12 and under free. Working hours: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; members receive early admission at 9am (membership available day of event).
Come out to Austin’s Mayfield Park April 6 for the Mayfield Park Gardening Symposium & Fundraiser, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. This annual park benefit includes a raffle, plant sale and garden speakers.
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I host in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners several times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and request to be added. Season 8 begins in the fall of 2024. Stay tuned for more information!
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