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- Area Architecture project area Area:
2550 sq. ft.
Year Year of the architectural projectYear:
2022
Photographers
Suppliers Brands and products used in this architecture projectSuppliers: Bocci, Duravit, trex, Dornbracht, Owens Corning, Saint-Gobain, American Standard, Ann Sacks, Aristech, Arlington Inbox, Benjamin Moore, Bosch home appliances, Brendan Ravenhill, CR Laurence, CertainTeed, DXV, Daltile, Elkay, Emtek Products, Inc., FSB Franz Schneider Brakel+32Franke, GCP Applied Technologies, Geberit, Halliday Baillie, Hansgrohe, Henrybuilt, Hestan, In Sink Erator, John Manville, Kelvix Lighting, LG, Lasertron Direct, LLC, Lennox, Lightheaded Lighting, Mixal, Proflo, Proinller, Reggiani Lighting, RixonFloor, SPJ Lighting, Scotsman, Sonoma Forge, Stego Industries, LLC, Stuc-O-flex, subzero, sugatsune, TRUE, United States Gypsum Company, WCM Industries, Western States Metal Roofing, Wiremold, Zephyr-32
Description submitted by the project team. The River Hills Cabin was conceived as a carved volume whose motorized sliding glass walls invite the lake environment inside with the push of a button. Chosen for their durability, polished concrete floors accentuate continuity from inside to outside. The roof and eaves are clad in reclaimed longleaf pine. A wine cellar separates the open kitchen, dining room and living room from the private bedroom and full bathroom. A small powder bath is accessible from the outdoor space, as well as an outdoor rinse shower that drops from a narrow slit in one of the weathered steel panels.
Shaded by a native pecan tree, the outdoor kitchen features an island with built-in appliances across from a grill featuring a custom smoker designed by a local chef. Multiple cooking options create an outdoor patio gathering space as well as a space from which to entertain.
From the cabin, a path leads to a weathered steel dock (also known as “W Dock”) floating in the shallow waters of Lake Austin. The main elements of the dock are triangular tubular steel frames and horizontal platforms. Coming to a point on the water’s surface, the triangular, reed-filled frames reduce the number of support piles required while creating the feeling that the dock is balanced “just so.” The frames are crossed by the thin pillars, platform and roof. Seen from further in, the slender columns almost disappear, and the pier appears as a series of floating planes, thus preserving views across the structure. On the upper level, deck and roof platforms frame a line of wooded cliffs across the water while catching breezes and providing shade.
The stripped-down form of the project meant that many decisions were already made for the designers. Incorporating functional elements such as lighting, speakers and handrails became a matter of finding the least intrusive solutions to preserve the integrity of the essential parts. Emphasis was placed on details such as the sloped handrails and dip door, which add a playful touch to a hot summer day.
