Hog Pen Creek Retreat in Austin, Texas by Lake|Flato Architects

Article source: The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Situated at the confluence of Hog Pen Creek and Lake Austin, Hog Pen Creek Residence was envisioned by its owners as a place that evokes the playfulness of summer on the lake and emphasizes exterior living space. Towering heritage oak trees, a steeply sloping site and aggressive setbacks from the water created challenging site constraints thoughtfully answered by the home’s L-shaped footprint and orientation. A long exterior boardwalk connects a series of structures that stair step down the hillside, crossing a 75-foot lap pool and terminating at a screened pavilion by the water’s edge.

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn

• Architects: Lake|Flato Architects
• Project: Hog Pen Creek Retreat
• Location: Austin, Texas, USA
• Photography: Casey Dunn
• Contractor: Don Crowell Builders
• Structural Engineer: Datum Engineers
• Lighting Designer: Studio Lumina
• Specifications: Introspec
• Landscape Architect: Garden Design Studio
• Furnishings: Abode | Fern Santini Design
• Surveyor: Bury + Partners
• Arborist: Don Gardner Consulting Arborist
• Woodwork: Thompson Woodworking & Design
• HVAC Contractor: Ay Mechanical
• Pool Contractor: Johnson Custom Pools

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn

The Hog Pen Creek Residence was designed as a home for a Bay Area couple who were looking to return to their Texas roots as they were approaching retirement age. They asked that the house connect to the outdoors, facilitate his training as an Ironman triathlete, and accommodate separate office spaces as they transition to retirement.

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn

The house was designed to connect to the outdoors in many ways. This connection begins as you step on the boardwalk at the motor court and is evident throughout the house. This outdoor circulation spine is designed to evoke images of a pier on Lake Austin and it organizes and connects all elements of the project from the motor court down to the dining pavilion on Lake Austin. Along the way, this spine passes through the outdoor living room which serves as the main entry to the house. This two-story porch space terminates the south end of the house and enjoys the prevailing breezes from Lake Austin. It also accommodates a fireplace to allow year round use. The north end of the house is also bookended by a porch although screened to provide an outdoor living space during insect season. It is nestled in a grove of oaks and pecans and its two story height appreciates their full majesty. The interior of the home accommodates many operable windows to provide cross ventilation and daylight and three pairs of oversized lift-slide doors provide views of Lake Austin to the east and open up much of the house when the weather is nice.

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn

The project was carefully sited and designed such that no existing trees had to be removed although one pecan tree was uprooted during a storm and fell into Hog Pen Creek. This loss was turned into a feature by salvaging it, milling it into slabs, and incorporating it into the design of many custom elements throughout the house. These elements include the dining table, vanity tops, desks, and shelving which further connect the house to the site.

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn

Tags: Texas, USA

Category: Residential

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 13th, 2016 at 6:18 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.