Palo Pinto Ranch

Home Square Footage: 1,700 Square Feet

Architectural Style: Rustic Lodge

Construction Type: New Home Construction 

A Residential Architecture Project in Austin, TX

The Palo Pinto Ranch challenged our Austin architects to create a new construction lodge with a rustic character that would feel integrated and at peace with the property’s mature landscape. This new build project serves as the weekend home for the family who has owned the rural ranch property for generations. In order to achieve a rustic look that felt at one with the site and reflected the history of the land, we sourced all of the natural stone used for the build and timber used for wood accents from the property itself, mimicking an age-old construction process for a home designed for modern living. Stone found on the ranch was used on the exterior base, kitchen island, and massive two-story fireplace. Trees were cut and used for the exterior columns on the porch and interior accents on the fireplace. The ranch lodge features an open-concept living area, two bedrooms on the ground level, and a loft-style kids’ room on the second floor. We designed a large front porch to take advantage of the peaceful views and added a rainwater collection system able to collect, clean, and store 100% potable water for the family and work sustainably with the land. The design of this Austin retreat honors the ecosystem’s integrity and provides a beautiful living space for generations to come.