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Field Report: Nueces River Ranch
Posted by philzimmerman on 1/8/13 at 7:00 am
Conceived as a unique blend of old and new, the nearly completed Nueces River Ranch carefully incorporates historical artifacts into a work of contemporary Texas architecture. As construction on this hill country residence comes to a close, the project has come full circle from early concepts of what the design would be. Evident in early concept sketches, our intention for the project was to create a design that referenced both Texas hill country vernacular and contemporary formal simplicity. Furthermore, materiality and heightened connection between inside and outside expressed in the renderings conveyed our desire to integrate the residence with its hill country landscape. As the construction of the Nueces River Ranch has unfolded, the experience of the design has become more evident.
Hill Country Site
View of Entrance and Bedroom Wing
Concept Sketch of Main Living Wing
View of Main Living Wing
Concept Sketch of Living and Dining Rooms
View of Living and Dining Rooms
In addition to responding to its hill country locale, the Nueces River Ranch sought to incorporate various historical articles of significance to the owner. Descendent from a family involved in the early American sugar industry, the owner desired to repurpose materials and elements from a historic sugar mill and use them within the design. Wood reclaimed from the mill is used for ceilings throughout the residence and clads custom kitchen cabinetry. An original wooden door from a mill outbuilding was also reused as an interior door. Most unique to the concept of integrating historical artifacts and contemporary design is the repurposing of sugar kettles for rainwater collection.
Reclaimed Wood Ceilings
Custom Cabinets Clad in Reclaimed Wood
Sugar Mill Door reused as Interior Door
Sugar Kettles used for Rainwater Collection
The Lake|Flato design team for the Nueces River Ranch includes Karla Greer AIA, Rebecca Bruce AIA LEED AP BD+C, Trey Rabke and Lizzie Marrin.