In the Hill Country of central Texas, the Backwards Sky Ranch House straddles the boundary between an open meadow to the south and the sharply carved bank of the Dry Frio River to the north. The living spaces are perched above and run parallel to the river, offering the owners uninterrupted access and views to the river valley.
Project name
Backwards Sky Ranch
Architecture firm
Clayton Korte
Location
Central Texas, USA
Principal architect
Brian Korte FAIA, Principal
Design team
Brian Korte FAIA, Principal. Camden Greenlee AIA, Architect/Design Lead. Javier Castro AIA, Architect. Josh Nieves, Project Manager. Brandon Tharp, Design Team
Built area
exterior space (3,284 sft²) rivals interior space (4,427 ft²)
Collaborators
Scott Williamson, P.E. (Structural Engineer), Studio Outside (Landscape Design), Acton Partners (Envelope Consultant), InTEC of San Antonio (Geotechnical Engineer)
Located at the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country, this private wine cave serves as a destination along a secluded bend of the Blanco River. Excavated into the north face of a solid limestone hillside, this shotcrete lined tube is protected on the east and west by tall oak and elm trees, allowing it to nearly disappear within the native landsca...
Project name
Hill Country Wine Cave
Architecture firm
Clayton Korte
Location
Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA
Principal architect
Brian Korte, FAIA, Partner. Camden Greenlee. Brandon Tharp
Collaborators
Dash Concrete (Concrete subcontractor), Fasone and Associates (Specialty steel fabrication), : Cactus Max Fine Metal Artwork (Art metalwork)
Civil engineer
Intelligent Engineering Services
Structural engineer
SSG Structural Engineers
Environmental & MEP
Positive Energy
Construction
Monday Builders
Material
Board-formed concrete, Wood-clad, Rocky Mountain Hardware, Glass
Typology
Residential › Wine Cave
Award winning LaRue Architects designed a unique residence perched on a lakeside cliff with a 150 feet vertical drop, located on Austin’s beautiful Lake Travis.
Architecture firm
LaRue Architects
Location
Lake Travis. Texas, USA
Photography
Dror Baldinger
Principal architect
James LaRue
Design team
James LaRue; Richard Medina (Interior Design)
Collaborators
Gregory Deane (Owner’s suite). Butterflies, Shanny Lott (Fireplace)
Interior design
LaRue Architects and Karen Greiner Interiors
Landscape
Sitio Design, Curt Arnette
Material
Slab on grade, wood frame construction with stone, stucco, and metal panels and a metal roof
Typology
Residential › House
The Lantern House sits on the perfect balance between being nestled into the hillside and rising above it. Designed as two levels for a local entrepreneur and family, the very linear “L” shape is able to spread the main spaces of the house out more evenly across the site in the direction of the topography.
Project name
Lantern House
Architecture firm
Dick Clark + Associates
Location
West Lake Hills, Travis County, Texas, United States
Principal architect
Kristopher White, AIA
Design team
Kristopher White, AIA / Kevin Gallagher / Dick Clark III, FAIA
Interior design
Kopicki Design
Site area
89,734 ft² (2.06 AC)
Civil engineer
TRE & Associates
Structural engineer
Structures
Landscape
West Shop Design
Lighting
Spectrum Lighting
Construction
SCC Seymore Construction Co
Material
Leuders Limestone, Stucco, Metal on wood & steel framing
Typology
Residential › House
Texas is arguably one of the most overlooked states when it comes to magnificent architecture, which is a shame given its rich culture means that some of the buildings located around the city are truly breathtaking.
Written by
Carol Trehearn
Photography
Falkenpost (cover image), Daniel Schwen, Janreagan, Michael Barera, Nsaum75
The architect and designer (Sanders Architecture and Britt Design Group) call this Texas ranch “Rocking 8” it is located on a remote 300,000 acre ranch, home was designed around stunning vistas and rock formations.
Project name
Rockin’ 8 Ranch
Architecture firm
Sanders Architecture
Location
Brown County, Texas, USA
Principal architect
Chris Sanders
Interior design
Laura Britt, Britt Design Group
Construction
David Wilkes Builders
Material
Stone, Glass, Steel, Wood, Concrete and plaster
Client
Royce and Judy Mitchell
Typology
Residential › House
The Austin-based architecture firm LaRue Architects and Britt Design Group have recently completed Ski Slope Residence in Lake Austin, USA. The teamed reimagined this 1950’s lake side cabin with a quirky hexagon add-on in the 70’s into a serene lake side ranch.
Project name
Ski Slope Residence
Architecture firm
LaRue Architects
Location
Austin, Texas, USA
Photography
Dror Baldinger
Principal architect
James LaRue
Interior design
Britt Design Group
Construction
Classic Constructors
Material
Wood, Steel, Stone
Typology
Residential › House
This stunning new build in Austin, Texas is a study in Midcentury Architecture and Designed by Mark Odom Studio. The Inglewood Courtyard Residence a 2,400 square foot light-filled home was designed around an entry sequence and circulation pathway that focuses on the courtyard and natural light.
Project name
Inglewood Courtyard Residence
Architecture firm
Mark Odom Studio
Location
Austin, Texas, USA
Photography
Casey Dunn, Tobin Davies
Principal architect
Mark Odom
Interior design
Mark Odom Studio and Ruby Cloutier
Civil engineer
Thrower Design, Neslie Cook (owner)
Structural engineer
PCW Construction, Inc.
Landscape
Mark Odom Studio, ESS Design+Build (Eco Safe Spaces)
Tools used
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom
Construction
Doug Cameron, Eco Safe Spaces (ESS Design+Build)
Material
Brick, Concrete, Wood
Typology
Residential › House
