Project Category: Residential

The ranch residence is constructed
of solid masonry in keeping with the
owners’ desire for a structure built
to last generations

The materials for the ranch were to be real and lasting; connecting to both the rich heritage of the frontier buildings of Texas, and to those expressive of sophistication and a knowledge of the fine materials of the world.

Interiors are finished with premium woods including cypress, pecan and oak, much of which was harvested from and milled on the ranch property.

A house of solid masonry, married to the bluff, was softened with the incorporation of hand-carved antique wood dredged from the bottom of forgotten swamps and ancient stone honed from the extinct quarries of antiquity.

Hidden off the bluff below
the pool is the Rondeval,
reminiscent of the client’s
travels to Africa

A retreat meant to take one
to some distant exotic place,
overlooking a vista akin to the
plains of Africa

The house sits within a grove
of oak trees that encourage
its non-axial arrival path

Inspired by a dovecote in Northern France, the library balances its lofty timber frame, iron chandelier and expansive windows with the warmth of smaller-scaled oak bookshelves and paneling.

Within this more natural landscape, the lower terrace’s open-air pavilion focuses on the pool and fountains, overlooking a creek and rustic gardens.

The principal living spaces align along the main axis connecting the entry, Library, Living Room, Kitchen and Breakfast though the cut stone wainscot, timber ceilings, and oak paneled and plaster wall.

A deductive process of design,
similar to that of a sculptor carving
from a block of white marble

Simple wood elements of railing windows and doors were expressed in contrast into the pure white mass. 

An exotic air to the language
was achieved through simple
straight-forward tectonics, while
avoiding literal historic references

Architectural elements such as the buttresses of the piano nobile, not only block the intense South Florida sun, but radiate light back into the space, illuminating the materials within.

Building to the street on two sides creates a “Gateway” from the sea to the town.

Simple white trim accents rustic Texas stone, recalling early farmhouses of Texas

Overlooking the grassy plain of the Colorado River, River Ranch anchors a glen of ancient sycamores. 

The delicate Victorian lines of
this Beachtown residence evoke
a time when Galveston was the
Belle of the Gulf Coast

Elements such as a central light monitor were used to introduce natural light to the interiors, while also doubling as a ventilation chimney allowing air movement to augment natural cooling.

Coastal buildings were a product of their environment and were all reflective of the climate, staying cool with tall triple-hung windows, high ceilings, cross ventilation and sleeping porches, all designed to take advantage of cooling sea breezes.

The Coastal Living House sought to
reflect these traditional characteristics while
employing modern hurricane-hardened
building practices

Approached through an aspen glade along a mountain meadow, one enters an intimate gravel motor court embraced by the poured in place concrete walls of the house.

Once within, guests are greeted by a warm wood foyer that is softly illuminated from the light monitor above

The warm polished-concrete walls are balanced with plaster panels to create a natural gallery for the owner’s extensive art collection.

The rambling nature of the
wings creates an informality
that belies the sophistication
of the architectural solution

The various connected buildings fit harmoniously within the untouched natural beauty of the site.

The house sits on a slight rise and
spreads out over the river valley in
interconnected masses

Light fixtures, mechanical grilles and hardware were custom designed following the character
of the existing home.

The parapet of the main entry
creates a dramatic silhouette
against the Texas sky

Decorative tile surmounts the
double height Mudejar-domed
library, connecting the upper level
to the master suite below

The upper level accommodates public spaces such as the principal room, music room, kitchen and dining, as well as an outdoor dining loggia; all are focused on the breathtaking views.

Improved thermal efficiency was achieved through the use of aerated autoclave concrete block. 

The exterior walls achieved an
expression of “found stone”
through the use of different types
of stone from quarries across Texas

The lodge is approached along the
natural path of the Sendero, cut through
the brush from the north and surmounting
a small hill overlooking a lake

The organization of the compound acts as a
foil to the surrounding wilderness.

The west veranda offers outdoor dining
with spectacular views across a marsh
lake and of the horizon beyond

This main court features the soothing sounds of the courtyard fountain and offers comfort through the intimate scale of the gathering space.

Through fortified gates, one enters
a court guarded by protective walls
and the sentinel cistern that holds the
harsh Texas surroundings at bay

Natural plaster and waxed antique wood lend a natural warmth to interior spaces.

Thick exterior walls were
hand-troweled sheetrock to
emulate plaster over stone

The clean German aesthetic works well for the compartmentalized interiors: every function has its place in the modest house.

Small windows in the
austere mass shine
as portals at night